Evening star., 1948-07-08
Trumun Foes Seen Pulling !
Democratic House Down !
Party Fight Likely to Continue After
Convention Ends
The Political Mill
ByGoah Lincoln


In their eagerness to destroy Harry g. Tru.
man, James Roosevelt, chairman of the Demo-
cratic State Committee Of California; Jacob
M. Arvey,- Chicago boss; Frank Hague Of
Jersey City fame and quite few other
Democratic leaders overlooked the fact they
were pulling the whole Democratic house down
about their ears. They went ahead with their
draft Eisenhower scheme, knowing as they
must have that Gen. Eisenhower was not go-
ing to play their game for them. While they
were boosting Gen. Eisenhower, they were
shouting from the roof tops Truman cannot
win" The Greeks had a word for it: Whom
the gods would destroy they first make mad"
The die-hards continue to profess their be-
lief that Gen. Eisenhower will accept presi-
Dental nomination. 1t seems incredible that
q majority Of the delegates to the Democratic
National Convention will 60 along with any
such idea-not unless they, too. do not wish
to understand. What do they think would
happen, should the convention nominate Gen.
Eisenhower? II he accepted. he would make
himself out two-faced somebody whom the
people would not elect to the presidency. 1t IL
certain-as the sunrise-that Gen. EISENHOWER
will do no such thing.
Caucus To Be Held.
The caucus called by Roosevelt ct al for June
for the presidency other than President Tru-
man is expected to meet as scheduled. 1t may
go ahead with its scheme to nominate Gen.
Eisenhower" But it would be a strange thing II
when the roll was called, under all the circum-
stances, there was not a material vote In the
convention in support of Truman and against
Eisenhower. Even If there was majority .vots
for the general, it would still be short OF
unanimous draft" which the boomers have
been shouting about. a-.
It seems, however that practical politicians
will finally get hep to the situation, and that
some effort will be made to save as much
as possible out of the Democratic wreck Chair /,
man McGrath of the Democratic National
Committee has already held out the olive.
branch to those Democrats who shouted for,
Eisenhower, urging them to return to the fold.
join in nominating President Truman and
work for the ticket If they can't beat Mr..
Truman, their best course is to join Him. II
they feel they can beat him-even without
Gen. Eisenhower-they must settle on some
one with whom to commit this capital act.
A boom has been started for Associate JUS =,
tice William o. Douglas Of the Supreme Court
on the ground he would rally all the old
Roosevelt New Dealers back Of him. There
are several difficulties In connection with JUS
tice Douglas. however. He would make even
less of a hit with the Southern Democrats
than does Mr.. Truman. In addition, Justice
Douglas is known to comparatively few of the :,
voting public. 1t would be some job to sell
him in short time. Justice Douglas is sum-
mering on the Pacific coast. He has said
nothing to lend himself to q presidential
boom. AS member Of the highest court In
the land-with an honorable position for the
rest Of his life-Justice Douglas might hesitats
to relinquish his present office to gamble for
the presidency with the odds distinctly against
him.
Who Else Is In the Picture?
Who else can be brought into the picture
who would make any better run than Mr..
Truman? There has been talk Of Senator
Barkley Of Kentucky, Democratic leader OF
the Senate, and of Chief Justice Fred Vinson
of the Supreme Court, also Of Kentucky.
There is no assurance that either Of these
gentlemen would care to have his name put
forward for the presidential nomination. Sem
ator Barkley was distinctly . candidate for
the vice presidential nomination four years
ago-so much so that when the late Presi-
dent Franklin D. Roosevelt wrote q letter
suggesting Harry Truman or William o.
Douglas for the job. Senator Barkley was en-
ragged and threatened not to make the nomi-
mating speech for Roosevelt for President
That was four years ago and Senator Barkley
will be II next November As for the Chief JUS
tice, 1t is not likely he could be weaned away. !
The Democrats, II they can bring q SEM a
blance Of harmony out of present warning, will .
have achieved a miracle The prospects are
for some hard fighting in Philadelphia-and
the fighting may not end there. ar