Evening star., 1948-09-05

any one to make such an about face.
What the Republicans will do with
all the anti-Truman ammunition,
provided by these Democrats, has
net yet been disclosed.
Franklin Roosevelt, in his quests
for the presidency, had the support
Of a great mass of independents
men and women who are not strong
iy affiliated with any political party
and who wear a political cola.
lightly if at all. This was true in
States from Massachusetts to Cali
iornia. Many of them had voted
Republican in the past, But whether
that was so or not, they are going
TO support the Dewey-Warren ticket
this year. Particularly are they
doing this because they do not con-
s:der Truman an effective Chief
Executive-Eor do they regard with
any favor lot of his appointees
to high Office, whom they feel are
mediocre at best.
The Dewey-Warren ticket, pre-
sented by the Republicans, on the
other hand, is looked upon as the
strongest combination the COP has
offered the country in years. Both
mer have twice been elected Cover
nor of their respective States, aild
both have been elected by tremend-
GUS majorities, overthroWing Demo-
cratic predecessors. Both have been
liberal as Republicans 60. Neither
had standpat, reactionary taint
about him. Liberal and independent
voters will have no difficulty voting
for this ticket.
So much for the present-day pic
ture of the presidential race. The
rest is Still in the making. AS rule,
presidential race is already settled
by this time-two months before
election day. The people have de-
cided they like those in Office suffi-
ciontly well to retain them, or they
have come to the conclusion they
will gamble for something better.
Occasionally, however, some new
issue, some striking incident forced
itself into the picture, and If the
race was at all close, the victory
hinged upon it. That was true in
1916-when the late Chief Justice
Charles Evans Hughes, the Republi-
can candidate, unwittingly ignored
The then Republican Governor of
California, Hiram johnson, during a
visit to that State-and California's
electoral vote, by narrow margin.
went to Woodrow Wilson.
Congress Will Be Target
President Truman's campaign will
be aimed at the record of the Eight
ieth Republican) Congress. He con-
siders that a vulnerable point of at
tack-principally because prices Of
food and some other commodities
have continued to increase after he
asked the Congress to give him
power to fix some prices and to
ration articles in short supply, and
the Congress did nothing about it.
He will, of course, attack Congress,
too, for passing the Taft-Hartley
labor law over his veto. He hopes
TO ride back to the White House in
the coming election on a high-cost-
living horse. Truman and his
aides will seek to impress on the
voters, too, the great social gains
made under the Roosevelt Truman
Observation-Disclosures all were
made during the Roosevelt end Of
the 16 years involved. His final
thrust will be directed at the last
Republican administration, when the
country suffered its greatest depres-
sion.
Truman as a campaigner has been
no great shakes to date. He has
been training, however, in the off,
the-cuff, free style of speaking to
political audiences. He tried it out
On a swing to,the West Coast before
the Democratic National Convention
and with fair success. 1t is q
dangerous form of activity for any
candidate. But it has its advantages
over set speeches.
/ Fighting for Truman will be his
running mate-Senator Barkley Of
Kentucky, one of the best cam
paigners in the country and wheel
horse for work. Plans are in the
making to use the Kentuckian in
every section of the country, despite
his 70 years. The Barkley nomina-
ton for Vice President was popular
with the delegates at the national
convention-although Truman him.
self and some of his advisers did
their best to get Justice Douglas to
accept such a nomination.
Stassen Fires First Round
The Americans for Democratic Ac-
lion, composed of number of old
Roosevelt New Dealers, which did all
in It's power to keep Truman from
being nominated, has come out with
an Endorsement of Truman. The
Political Action Committee of the
CIO is going into action, too, for the
President.
The Republican campaign win be
opened day after tomorrow. when
former Gov. Harold E. Stassen Of
Mimi, now president Of the Univers-
| ity Of Pennsylvania, speaks in De-
.roit and to the Nation by radio in
reply to Truman. Gov. Dewey him
self may not take to the hustings
until two weeks later. But when
the New Yorker gets underway, he
may be expected to keep constantly
at It. He is an indefatigable worker
and capable Of campaigning right up
to election day, should it appear at
all necessary. His running mate
Gov. Warren-is to be provided with
q special train and he, too, will
begin campaigning within a short
ftyr.e Warran Ia a ma rftettlo riv at