Evening star., 1949-09-09
Truman Still Backs
Switzer, but Is Vague
On Wa||gren Plans

VII w uISlVu iuiiS
President Truman had Congress
speculating today about two of his
appointments that have been
blocked in the Senate-those of
Carroll o. Switzer and former
Gov. Mon C. Wallgren of Wash
ington.
Mr.. Truman told his news con-
ference yesterday he will not re-
call the nomination of Mr.. Switzer
to be a Federal judge in Southern
Iowa. The appointment has been
blocked by Senator Gillette, DEM
ocrat, of Iowa.
The President refused comment
when asked about reports that he
would give a recess appointment
to Mr.. Wallgren as chairman of
the National Security Resources
Board. This nomination was with
drawn at Mr.. Wallgren's request
on May II after it had been bot
tied up in the Senate Armed Serv-
ices Committee. Senator Byrd,
Democrat, of Virginia joined with
six Republicans to oppose the ap-
pointment.
Reply Is Enigmatic.
When a reporter mentioned that
some members of Congress have
been disturbed by the reports Mr..
Wallgren would be given a recess
appointment, Mr.. Truman threw
out a reply which left many guess
ing as to his intentions.
He said he expected some Re-
publicans are going to be wrought
up about it. He added that he
hoped to keep them that way.
Friends of Mr.. Wallgren said in
Seattle recently that he might get
the appointment to the Resources
Board after all. The report was
circulated after Mr.. Wallgren had
been visiting in his home State. A
recess appointment would be sub
ject to Senate confirmation in
January.
In the diplomatic field Mr.. Tru-
man announced that he plans to
name Stanton Griffis of New York
as Ambassador to Argentina. He
would succeed James Bruce, who
resigned earlier this year to re-
turn to private business. Mr.
Griffis, an investment banker,
formerly served as Ambassador to
Poland and to Egypt.
Switzer Stand Is Surprise.
Mr.. Truman's announced inten-
tions to stand by his appointment
of Mr.. Switzer for the judgeship
IN Iowa was unexpected.
Mr.. Switzer recently offered to
withdraw because of the opposi-
ton to him. 1t also has been re-
ported that Mr.. Truman had
written to Senator Gillette saying
he presumed Mr.. Switzer's action
had made the Iowa Senator very
happy.
Senator Gillette wouldn't talk
about the reported letter from the
President. He did tell a reporter
he thinks the Presidents decision
10 stick by the nomination is un-
fortunate.
II have not changed my feeling |
that I have expressed before, that
Mr.. swit1er Is a fine, clean chap
but y distinctly lacking in the ex-
per1ence and temperament we
should have In our judiciary" he
sdded.
It has been the general under |
standing among interested Sena-
tors that the switzer nomination
which Senator Gillette had said
was INTENDED to be a direct af-
front to me"-would be washed
up with the withdrawal of the
nomination and the submission to
the White House OF names of two
men favored by Senator Gillette.
The Iowa Senator had recon-
mended William r. Riley of Des
Moines, former Iowa Bar hssocia-
ton president, and Ed Halbach
of Clinton.
j. Howard McGrath, the new
Attorney General. was reported to
have arranged for this solution Of
the political impasse before he left
the Senate to enter the cabinet.
II Mr.. Truman ever agreed-and
some Senators said his letter to
Senator Gillette indicated he had
he changed his mind. On that
point, they recalled Mr.. Truman's
visit to Des Moines last week. He
may have discussed the nomina-
ton then with Jake More. Iowa
Democratic chairman who has
been sponsoring Mr.. Switzer for
the job.
AS for filling 26 new Federal
judgeships provided in recent leg
islation-including six for District
courts-Mr. Truman said he Is
taking his time because that is one
of the most important duties OF
his Office.
He added that the welfare Of the