Evening star., 1948-03-18
By Joseph A. Fox

PRESIDENT Truman'S political
offensive was under way today,
with Henry Wallace the first OBJ
ject of attack.
The President lashed out at his
former cabinet aide and "his Com
munists" last night in an address
before the Friendly Sons of st.
Patrick in New York.
1t was Mr.. Truman's first ex-
preston of political nature since
his own presidential candidacy was
announced, and political observers
expected that from now on he
would slug it out with the opposi-
ton whenever the opportunity Of
fers.
Mr.. Wallace, whose independent
presidential candidacy has the
Democrats worried, will have a
chance to reply to the President
tonight in speech to be broadcast
by the American Broadcasting
Co. at 10:45.
The President, after a leisurely
train trip from New York, returned
to his desk this morning.
Mr.. Truman's unexpected attack
on Mr.. Wallace brought cheers from
$500 diners at the Hotel Astor.
Earlier they had applauded Francis
Cardinal Spellman as he assailed
the Communists and gave his hearty
support to Mr.. Truman's call on
Congress yesterday for universal
military training. Departing from
his prepared text, the President
said:
Il do not want and I will not ac-
cept the political support of Henry
Wallace and his Communists. If
joining them or permitting them to
join me is the price of victory,
recommend defeat.
"These are days of high prices for
everything. But any price for Wall
lace and his Communists is too
much for me to pay. I'm not buy
ing"
Asks Equal Radio Facilities.
Mr.. Wallace, who already had
announced plans to reply tonight to
President Truman's foreign policy
message refused comment, but a
spokesman said he had wired the
four major networks asking for
equal facilities to those given
Harry Truman for his personal and
political attack on me and the mil
lions of Americans who support our
program for peace"
The Presidents challenge to Mr..
Wallace was surprising in some re-
Spects because it came only a few
weeks after repeated invitations by
Democratic National Chairman J..
Howard McGrath for the one-time
Vice President and Commerce Sec
retary TO come back to the Demo-
cratic fold. But Mr. Truman told
newsmen he had been wanting for
a long time" to say what he did.
The Presidents talk last night,
which was amplification of his
message to Congress came at the
wind-up of 10-hour visit to New
York during which he. reviewed a
part of the colorful st. Patrick's
Day parade on Fifth Avenue, in
company with Gov. Dewey of New
York, who may be his opponent in
November.
Says Nation Must Face Risks.
Mr.. Truman told the Friendly
Sons that the United States must
be prepared to assume perhaps un-
precedented risks to meet the
challenge of Soviet aggression. The
United States must be strong, he
continued, because it is the prin-
cipal protector of the free world. u
The President was warmly re-
ceived in New York, where he ar
rived shortly before 2 o'clock in the
presidential plane, Sacred Cow
Crowds were in evidence at various
points along his route from La
Guardia Field, and the last few
blocks leading to Fifth avenue where
he watched the parade from a stand
at Sixty-fourth street. were jammed
Gov. Dewey and James A. Farley
former Democratic national chair
man, were in the stand when the
President arrived, and he remained
for an hour and a quarter, watching
the napeent which hro,loht ol1t 80 non