Evening star., 1949-03-04
Johnson Appointment
Settles Biggest Debt
OF Truman Campaign
Chief Money-Roiser
Rewarded; Forrestol's
Foes Seen Vindicuted
By David Lazprence

ney-raiSer-LouiS A. Johnson
with an important post in the
cabinet. The Defense Department
allocates contracts and spends ap-
proximately $15,o00,0OO,000 a year
of public funds for the armed
services.
Mr.. Truman, with characteris-
tic political boldness. revealed his
debt at a luncheon of the Finance
Committee of the Democratic Ma
tional Committee January 10. The
stenographic transcript of that
meeting. as issued by the Demo
cratic National Committee, quotes
Mr.. Truman as having said:
There were times in this cam
paign when we were pretty well
strapped. We couldn't buy radio
time. we couldn't even pay toI
the transportation of the Presl-
dent from one end of the country
to the other to make his cam
paign. But we did get Louis john
son interested in the situation, and
from the time he began opera
tions. we were able to make the
necessary tours and get some OF
the radio time necessary to tell
the people of the United States
what the issues really are and
we're"
No Doubt About Paying Of.
Mr.. Truman did not reveal
where Mr.. johnson got the money
he is reported to have raised
ST. 500 .000-nor has there been any
doubt anywhere since that Mr'
Johnson was to be paid of for
his efforts with a cabinet post.
In the old wicked" days OF the
Republicans. the most they ever
did when one Of their number got
10 the White House was to pay on
bic contributors to the campaign
fund by giving them ambassador
ships and occasionally some Fed
eral Office that was regarded as
political. such as the postmaster
eeneralship.
At the moment the American
people have been led to believe
that national defense is a non
polltical matter and that party
politics have nothing TO do with
the handling Of the Office Of Secre-
tarv of Defense. Indeed, 1t was
Mr., ForresLals pointed refusal TO
become involved in the presiden-
tl4l campaign, either as speaker
or as a contributor, which IS oe-
ueyed to have been one factor uSeo
nv opponents to undermine him
with Mr.. Truman.
The customary language OF
praise in the exchange OF oln-
cial letters covering the reslg-
nation cannot erase from the rec
ord the steady campaign OF snip
ing at Secretary Forrestal which
has been engineered from among
the White House entourage ever
since election day. 1t was gwen
momentum by others outside the
White House who believed ina
NTr, Forrestal was responsible loE
the cautious policy of the Amerl-
can Government at one time with
respect to developments IN PaIes-
tin .,.-.
It was contended by military
men that American bases neeaeo
for the air force in Saudi ARABIA
m}ght be jeopardlzed by taxing
sides in the Arab-Palestlnlan war.
Mr. Forrestal has denied that ne
had any hand in shaping the WaV-
ering policies of the State De-
partment. conflning himself 10
advice solely on military matters
One Of Most Efficient.
Mr.. Forrestal told this CORE
spondent during the last cam
paign that in the event OF GOV;
Deweys election-whlch seemed
cc tain at that time-he would
not remain in his post except TO
heip his successor for a orlel
pc .od to become familiar with the
10.
.5ecretary Forrestal has had the
benefit of experience at first mana
with all the armed services during
wartime and he is one of the most
efficient men who ever served IN
the cabinet. His departure Will be
a loss to national defense and TO
the future planning by the armed
services. His rare tact and judg-
ment won the confidence OF MS
associates all along the line.
Mr.. johnson comes to his new
post with an experience in the
War Department, but he must win
the confidence of the Navy. He
must also win the confidence OF
Republicans on Capitol Hill,
many of whom cannot feel the
same now toward an active poll
tician at the head Of the Defense
Department as they did under the
nonpartisan administrator, Mr..
Forrestal
There is one aspect of the cabl-
net change which will not escape
notice. Only last week, when the
President said at public banquet
that no IS. o. B." could tell him
what changes to make in his cabl-
net. he was pointedly referring to
a radio commentator who has
been consistently hammering
away at Mr.. Forrestal. Now Mr..
Truman. despite his cuSs words,
has vindicated the predictions OF
that same commentator. All OF
Unich means merely that Mr.. Tru-
mon made up his mind to fire Sec
retarv Forrestal about the time OF
the election and almost everybody
hereaboutS has known about 1t.
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