Evening star., 1950-05-28
KeyserIine's Address
Ruted Political
Writer DepIores cEA Heads
Portison Activity
By Fronk Z. Kent

There is no act upon the statute books
TO prevent any appointee Of the President
from active participation in politics, But
there exists an unwritten Law which holds
that such participation by members OF
certain boards. courts and commissions
is not only bad taste and unethical. but
grossly improper,
Probably no one has called the atten-
ton Of Leon Keyserling. the new chair
man Of the Presidents Council Of Eco
nomic Advisers, to this law Or perhaps
he regards unwritten laws as an inven-
ton Of the 'reactionaries" designed to
hamper "forward-lookine men" and re-
tard our progress toward the light, Likely,
too, he conSiders-and not without some
ground-that these matters Of taste and
ethics were relegated to the rear In the
old New Deal days. And he looks upon
any attempt to revive them nov as dis
tinctly backward step.
Nevertheless there has been consider
able criticism concerning the xest and
speed with which. almost Immediately
after his appointment to the chairman
ship. Mr.. Keyserling tore out to Chicago
and there plunged into the big political
demonstration arranged by the Demo-
cratic National Committee TO coincide
with MIR. Truman's presence. The Key
serling participation included making n
vigorous speech strictly along Keyserling
lines. 1t is an understatement to say that
this did not please good many here and
elsewhere who believe the board which
Mr.. Keyserling now heads is one OF those
which should hold itself completely aloot
from partisan politics.
That is the view of the Keyserline
critics but. sound as 1t seems. quite
evidently it isn't the KeySerling view
One of Mr Kerserlings most eulogistic
journalistic friends asserts that Mr.
Keyserling. along with Clark Clifford
now engaged IN the lucrative practice OF
law in Washington but for some years
Mr.. TrumanS chief speech writer ana
aide, was the real architect Of the So
called Fair Deal" and. therefore. feels
1t incumbent upon him to promote 1t in
naturally, is by keeping Mr.. Truman.
who named him to this post. in the
White House. thus keeping out any
President who would do away not only
with the Fair Deal" but with Mr..
Keyserling. its architect. as well.
Mr.. Keyserling's recent political splash
Probably, from his standpoint, 1t is de-
fendable conduct-and MIR. Keyserling
is always able to present a plausible de-
fense. But it seems completely indefen-
sible to those who feel that to be worth
anything the advice which Mr. Truman
gets from his Council OF Economic Ad-
visers ought to be unflavored by either
politics or the personal prediction Of
its members. They contend that Mr.
Keyserling, as an active and partisan
politician, makes utterly worthless any
economic advice coming from o board
headed by himself.
However. his friends are rather dis
posed to laugh at the criticism Of his
political activity Their theory is that
most Of the people who do the voting
read the comics and sports In the news
papers but very few, indeed. pay atten-
ton to editorials and columnar comment.
Perhaps they are right. Therefore, how
ever blatant and offensive Mr.. Keyser-
Ang's political participation. criticism
may do him no harsa. In any event, 1t
will not prevent him from internationally
issuing long, solemn economic prognosti-
cations in supporting the Fair Deal"
And exactly the same people who now
take him seriously as an economist will
continue to do so. Quite generally. in
business circles. his selection Is regarded
as calamity. His weird economic poll
icies, 1t Is contended. are fitted to Mr..
Truman's political policies. This means
more pump priming. deep deficits, higher
debts-in brief, imitation. For those who
do not regard these things as desirable
the only hope is that this Congress will
continue to be what Mr.. Truman calls
'obstructonist" and that the one to be
elected in November will be more 20.