Evening star., 1948-02-20
Democratic Jitters

The Presidents remarks to the party
faithful last night were suggestive OF
serenity which is more apparent than real.
Mr.. Truman was addressing the Jeffer-
son-Jackson Day dinner guests, whose
main function is that of replenishing the
party treasury. The speech was conven-
tional and little dull, lacking even
reference to discomfort in the southern
ranks of the party or to the campaign of
assault and battery which Henry Wallace
has been conducting.
It is rather obvious, however, that this
presidential air of indifference is surface
matter; that within the higher echelons
of the Democratic Party there is real and
growing concern.
This is most strongly evidenced by the
cries of distress which emanated from the
headquarters of National Chairman Nc
Grath after the Democratic debacle in
New York City's special congressional cleo
ton. In all but so many words, Senator
McGrath appealed to Mr.. Wallace to drop
his third party and return to the DEM
ocratic fold. Mr.. Wallace should realize,
Senator McGrath said, that he can accom-
plish nothing but "the defeat OF the Dem
ocratic Party's program Of practical liberal
ism in 1948"
Mr. Wallace, of course, knows this only
too well. He said the same thing himself
in the summer of 1916, when there was
| talk of a third party move by some dis
gruntled labor bosses and prior to the
arrival of Messrs. Wallace and Truman
at the parting of their ways. Announcing
that he was going to support President
Truman in 1948, Mr.. Wallace declared:
"The record is clear. The Democratic
Party is the progressive party; the Re
publican Party is the party of reaction. I
do not believe that either party is going
to change its spots. This is fundamentally
a progressive country. A third party move
could only split the progressive vote and
thereby contribute to reactionary
victory"
So it is clear from the record that Mr..
Wallace fully understands what he is doing,
and it is equally clear that Senator Nc
Grath is not likely to lure him back into
| the Democratic ranks unless he is prepared
| to make very substantial concessions.
11OW Call GIllS US OOllC! INll w d14oSO 1Aoko
insisted on a position with respect to racial
issues, which, If adopted by the Democrats,
| might well prove to be the final blow that
| would break the chains which have held
the Southern Democrats in political bond
age since the Civil War. Would the re-
capture of Mr.. Wallace justify concessions
which might split of the South, or large
segments of it? Secondly Mr.. Wallace
has damned the Presidents foreign policy
from beginning to end. It is reasonable
assumption that he cannot be won over
unless this foreign policy is substantially
| modified and that can be done only at the
expense of vital national interests. Is the
administration prepared to pay such a
price and If it is, would it be politically
smart to do so? Certainly the President
cannot come to terms with Mr.. Wallace
on this score without sacrificing his own
self respect and forfeiting the respect of
| millions of voters who now are prepared
to support him. -.
Admittedly, the President is in very
| tough spot And when that Is the case,
our political morals being what they are,
anything can happen. 1t seems not un-
reasonable, however, to suggest that, for
the President, there is but one main
chance of finding way out of his political
dilemma. And that would lie, not in
panicky concessions made at the expense
of the national interest and designed to
win over selfish minority elements but
| rather in undertaking to see this thing
through on the basis of doing what he
honestly believes to be best for all the
people of the United States. Perhaps MIR.
Truman cannot be reelected by being that
| kind of a President. But il this Is so, ne