Evening star., 1948-06-13
Trumun's Left-Wing Bid
Called Major BIunder
Democratic Liberals Seen Alienated
By Appeals to Radical Groups

Democratic Liberals Seen Alienated
By Appeals to Radical Groups
By Gerard d. Reilly
In the Judgment Of the traditional Demo-
Gratis, one of the major blunders made BY
President Truman in his current attempt to
regain his popularity has been his persistent
attempt to WOO the votes Of the radicals al
ready committed to his defeat. His attack on
the Taft-Hartley Act at the convention Of
American Communication Workers and his
denunciation Of Congress for refusing TO re-
enact price control legislation indicate that
he still views the Wallace candidacy Is the
greatest threat to his reelection.
1t is true that with Walter Reuther and his
Socialist following having superseded the
Communists as the dominant faction In the
CIO, the hierarchy Of that organization has
held aloof from the Wallace camp. But any
lingering hope entertained by Mr.. Truman's
advisers for the support of CIO ofacialdom
was dashed the past week.
On the very day that the President in the
West was making his obeisances TO the CIO
line, the Political Action Committee Of the
CIO, through its assistant director, Ttlford
Dudley, began . lawsuit against the Demo-
cratic Central Committee Of the District OF
Columbia in an attempt to enjon the COM
mittee from proceeding with the local primary
scheduled for tomorrow unless his name, along
with others on an anti-Truman slate, would
be placed upon the ballot Of convention dele-
gates.
Some of the delegates on this slate are per-
sons Of standing who are in no way beholden
to the CIO. Nevertheless, the incident re-
veals conclusively the CLOS real attitude to-
ha Hn,tht
that man in Mr. Dudleys position would not
have participated openly In a seemingly in
traparty row except upon instructions from
his employers.
Political observers have been aware that the
CIo agents have been engaged for some weeks
in an intrigue designed to prevent the Presi-
dents denomination. They hope to see the
number of pledged Truman delegates reduced
to less than q majority when the convention
meets in Philadelphia. Their hostility to the
President is not based on any feeling that he
has failed to 60 down the line with them. In
fact, the CIO familiars have been much more
influential In the shaping of White House pol.
icy than was the case when President Roose.
welt was alive. They currently regard Mr..
Truman as sinking ship, however, and hence
are ready to desert him at the first opportu-
nifty.
What they have in mind Is situation at the
Democratic convention under which there will ,
not be enough pledged delegates to put Mr..
Truman across on the first ballot. Under these
circumstances they plan to send some neutral
and important parsonage to Gen. Eisenhower
to tell him that the situation reflects national
desire for his candidacy. II the general is
impressed and lets his name 60 before con-
fused convention, they foresee his nomination
and overwhelming election, carrying with him
into Congress q number OF left-wing candi-
dates. This they feel will restore their pres
tge and place the new President under
obligation to them. Should the general fail to
yield to this draft" the thought Is to make
the same approach to Mr.. Justice Douglas.
There are two major difficulties with this
scheme. One Is the complete lack of evidence
that either of these gentlemen, who have al-
ready disclaimed any pretentions of political
ONCE, are sufficiently gullible to lend them
selves to this scheme. The other Is that even
in the event Of Its success, the likelihood that
the drafted" nominee would feel under any
particular obligation to the oIo would be re-
mote.
The convention deadlock, which Is pre-.
requisite to this political coup, cannot be
brought about directly by the CIO, for that
organization will not control more than .
handful of delegates. The bulk Of the anti
Truman delegates will be made up Of Southern
politicians, who resent the Presidents spon-
sorship of national FEPC legislation. They
will be augmented by the defections Of various
municipal bosses who are afraid that unless
the ticket is headed by more popular cam
didate than Mr.. Truman, the dimensions OF
the Republican victory may even be measured
in Democratic strongholds.
These professional politicians, however, will
not be interested in fashiontng party plat"
form which accords with CIO philosophy. In
fact, these are the men who have been most
vociferous in opposing socialistic infiltration
in administration circles. Therefore, If the
assumption that Gen. Eisenhower or Mr.. JUS
tice Douglas are politicians at heart. should
turn out to be correct, the nominee Is far
more likely to feel under obligation to the
reactionary elements, who are the real core
of the Truman movement within the
Democratic Party itself.
The real tragedy Of the situation, however.
SO far as Mr. Truman's hopes OF ultimate sue
cess are concerned, is not that the conspirators
have any real chance of blocking his nomina-
ton. There is too much mutual antipathy
among them for that to happen. But by
attempting to appease the left, the President
is alternating the liberal Democrats who gave
the Wilson and Roosevelt administrations
their essential tone.
candidate running in the great Demo-
cratic tradition would have no dearth OF issues
so far as the current Republican Congress Is
concerned. He could point to its failure to
balance the budget by increasing appropria-
tions and reducing taxes. He could argue
that the House leadership is still obsessed with
the fallacy of the protective tariff He might
contend that the refusal Of the House leaders
to execute the commitments made under the
Marshall Plan, and their rejection OF the
Forrestal plan for co-ordinated defense sys-
tenn. is endangering our security in the inter-