Evening star., 1948-06-20

IN auditorium seating 10000. 1t
was Just naturally fall down in,
advance planning. which probably
wasn't helped by the political sit
lation in Nebraska, where the
Democratic State chairman had
walked out on Mr.. Truman.
At the in-between stops, it's been
largely a matter OF glad to see
you" with a dig at Congress, and
usually something about prices and
the perennial western issue OF nat
ural resources on which Mr.. Tru-
man insists the legislators have been
pursuing a niggardly policy.
Hints Future Trip
Actually, the trip served much OF
the purpose of get-acquainted ma
neuver, for while Mr.. Truman CAM
through the West as a vice
candidate, he still is
stranger to a large part of the popu-
lation,
Often he would tell his audiences
that he had come out to give them
a look at him, Occasionally 1t
would be ito see what kind of bird
I am" And repeatedly there was
a promise to talk to them again
when the issues are drawn" or.
with 4 chuckle, when I make a
political trip out here"
One of the noticeable features OF
the trip was the concentration Of
women and children whenever the
President stopped. Mr.. Truman
must have seen more babies held up
in his direction by adoring mothers
than ever before in his life.
The crowds also got chance to
see the President in his own family
setting, for Mrs. Truman and Mar
garet always were in close attend
ance. The distaff side Trumans did
all right, and one reporter with
flair for figures and stop watch
said that Margaret drew more ap-
plause than everybody else in the
party combined, at a lunchtime
stop in Bremerton. Wash, where
the presidential encourage travelled
In company with Gov. Mon Wall
gren and Senator Magnuson, when
she waved gayly to a street-corner
assemblage.
Another item on the plus side Of
the picture Is that the President
was getting increasing punch in his
drive, the further along he got.
although when leaving Los Angeles
he confessed to reporters that he
was never so tired In his life.
While, from the outset, 1t was
apparent that Mr. Truman pro-
posed to have q lot to say about
Congress, 1t was not until he had
gone into Montana, where there
are some more unhappy Democrats.
that he threw his campaign into
high.
At Butte, in the heart of the
copper country, he really turned on
the heat; spelled out congressional
shortcomings as he sees them, and
declared that Congress should stay
In session until action has been
taken on his program.
Better Off the Cuff
The Presidents speaking tech
nique, incidentally, is improving, In
the opinion of those who have been
riding with him. Where he is fol-
lowing a prepared text, his delivery
often lacks ease. But once he goes
off the cuff or just talks from
notes, 1t is distinctly different.
In Los Angeles he talked ex-
temporaneously for a solid half
hour on the program that Congress
has snubbed. and at the end re-
ceived a standing ovation.
A curbstone opinion on the minus
side of the picture is that 1t Is based
primarily on disaffection among the
Democrats, which seems to rest on
no more tangible feeling than that
the President Is not strong candi-
date. Interestingly, Democrats do
not seem to be worried by Henry
Wallace.
In Southern California, where
Truman sentiment is weak, accord
ing to convention delegates, who
must vote for him on the first
ballot, one old-style politician said
combination of "Pauley and PEN
dergast" was responsible. The ref
erence was to the factional differ
ences in which Edwin w. Pauley,
Californian and formerly party
treasurer, has figured, and the old
Pendergast machine in Kansas City.
which put the President into poll
tics.
Some Dissidents
Some Western Democrats were
put out because they didn't get to
ride on the presidential train, And
because, reputedly, there were too
many Republicans taking part IN
the planning for his trip.
After this had bobbed up three or
four times, the travelling White
House was moved to an apologize
explanation that the President was
making his primary speaking tour
under nonpolitical auspices and for
that reason, while he was glad 70
see State chairmen and others, IL
was not possible for them TO ac-
company him.
The dissidents were not buying
that one with resignation or other
wise but it Is one angle that would
not recur on a straightout political
,unket. A question that naturally
presents itself is whether this mad
will continue If Mr.. Truman is, as
expected. the nominee.
One thing, while there was little