Evening star., 1950-11-17
Truman Silence on 81
Kept Administration
From CrumbIing
Election Move Now Would
Put RivoIs in Field and
Bring Factions in Party
By David Laurence

President Truman wisely re-
Trained Thursday from saying
whether or not he will be a candi-
date to succeed himself in 1852.
If he had done otherwise-that
is, if he had said he wouldn't run
the whole political structure of the
administration would have crum-
bled overnight. Prospective candi-
dates would have entered the field
and rivalry and factionalism inside
the administration would have de-
veloped Immediately.
Even though the President does
decide to run, it may be doubted
whether he will be free from op-
position. In 1948 there was a siz-
able dissent in the Democratic
Party-including the radical wing
which used the name of Gen.
Eisenhower in an attempt to block
the nomination of Mr.. Truman.
One thing American politics has
established almost as a truism-
any President, irrespective Of
party, can bring about his own re-
nomination. The Federal Office
holders who owe their appoint
ment to an incumbent President
have enough power In gathering
delegates to assure President of
denomination at the party's con-
vention.
Might Not Choose to Run.
The talk that Mr.. Truman
might not choose to run stems
largely from a belief that he is not
anxious to go beyond the almost
normal period of service that he
will have had. Mr.. Roosevelt was
inaugurated for a fourth term on
January 20. 1945, and Mr.. Truman
took the oath on April IL of that
year. Thus he has had a term of
four years lacking about three
months plus the four-year term
to which he was elected in 1948.
The Democratic Party has ira
ditionally opposed a third term
except during a national emer-
gency. The war was the basis for
the continuance of Mr.. Roosevelt
in Office beyond the accustomed
two terms and indeed into a third
and fourth term.
It could happen that the United
States would be involved in a war
in 1852 and the Democrats would
urge Mr.. Truman to run because
q national emergency existed, ar
guing that a change of admins
tration would be disadvantage
to the national interest.
But If there is no more of an
emergency than prevails today, it
would be difficult for the politi-
clans to justify the demand for a
third term. Certainly it may be
expected that, If Mr.. Truman is
going to run, the momentum would
be increased behind the constitu-
tiona1 amendment which was
passed by two-thirds Of both
houses but has not yet received
the requisite three-fourths vote of
the State Legislatures. This amend
nent does not specifically pro-
1ibit Mr.. Truman from trying for
! third term but such an amend
nent actually in the Constitution
oy 1852 would pretty well estab-
lish the principle in peoples /
minds.
Eisenhower Demand Likely.
If there is a war emergency,
there is likely to be a demand for
Gen. Eisenhower to head the
Republican or the Democratic
ticket-somewhat as was the case
in 1948.
While at the moment Senator
Taft is being talked of as a likely
Republican nominee for the presi-
dency, the simple rules of presi-
dental politics would probably ap-
ply. If the Democratic Party is
unpopular in 1852 so that any
Republican is certain to win any
how, the Republican Party leaders
will be inclined to go along with
the Ohio Senator or some other
man who has had a career In ma
tional affairs on the Republican
side.
II, on the other hand, the Re-
publican Party is not popular and
the Democrats have strengthened
themselves politically by 1852. the
demand for Gen. Eisenhower
will be heard as ''big name" to
override all other considerations
Much depends, therefore, on what
the Congress just elected does and
how the country reacts to the
policies pursued by President Tru-
man himself in the next two
years.
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