Evening star., 1951-12-15
The Political Mill
Truman and Mckinney
Are Great Optimists
Believe Public Will Pay
No Heed to Scandals
By Gould Lincoln


President Truman and his new DEM
ocratic National Chairman, Frank e.
Mckinney. take the position that the
scandals" In the executive depart
ments will not be an issue in the 1852
political campaign. They are great
optimists. Why they should believe the
public will not pay attention to the
cumulative disclosures of the five per
centers," Of the use of political in
fluence and favoritism in RFC loans, Of
the shocking corruption in the tax
collecting agency of the Government,
remains mystery.
They may believe, by the appointa
ment Of big-name board or commits
sion to investigate and report on the
executive agencies Of the Government,
they can avoid and lessen the effect on
the public mind of the revelations of
corruption and improperly in the Gov
eminent that have already been made
by congressional Investigations. 1t may
be figured that such a board, bringing
in report next summer or fall to the
effect that all is well-that all rotten
ness has been eliminated from the Gov
ernment-will head off the Indignation
OF the voters.
Plan Failed Before.
The President tried out such a plan
when the loyalty of Government en-
ployes. particularly in the State DEPART
ment, was challenged. He was forced
to take action then, by charges growing
out OF congressional investigations
particularly those of the House Un-
American Activities Committee - al
though he had first described the
charges as 'red herrings" LOYALTY
boards were set up, in answer to the
charge that the administration was
soft" toward Communists and fellow
travellers in the Government service.
They served to still some of the public
clamor over the charges made by the
Un-American Activities Committee and
by Senator Joe" Mccarthy of Wiscon-
SIN. But they did not take the so-called
Red issue" out of the political cam
paign of 1850. which was disastrous for
a number of strong administration sup
porters. Nor is any such board or boards
going to take the scandal issue" out of
the campaign of 1852.
Obviously the President and Mr.. Nc
Kinney do not want the scandal issue
IN the coming campaign In the past
they have both undertaken to get away
from the issue by describing the charges
brought against the administration as
smear tactics" But the facts have
become too strong. The smell rises to
the nigh heavens. Now they have both
promised cleanup, although MIR.
Truman is trying to make it appear that
the corruption and Government firings
this year have been no worse than in
those OF other years. That proves moth
ing except that the administration has
been sown with corruption for a long
time, and should have been thrown out
long ago.
Taft Hammers Away at Issue.
Senator Taft of Ohio, strong con-
tender for the Republican presidential
nomination. is already hammering away
at the Truman administration on the
scandal issue. He said in Boston. bring
ing the issue close to the White House.
"Vaughan's friend Maragon is in iail.
but Harry Vaughan is still in the White
House" This points up the question,
How far is the President willing to 60 in
his promised cleanup of the Govern
ment! VIII ne eliminate higher-ups and
close personal friends His record I'D to
the present indicates he will stick to
those whom he has favored.
The appointment of the LOYALTY
boards did not halt the investigations
by the House Un-American Activities
Committee, nor did it prevent the in
vestigation Of the enforcement of the
anti-subversive laws by the McCarran
committee of the Senate. 1t is entirely
unlikely that the appointment of the
proposed cleanup board will stop the
investigations by the King committee
OF the House. Further, it is well within
the possibilities that Senator McCarran
OF Nevada, chairman of the Senate Ju-
dietary Committee, will come back here
the first of the year intent on conduct
ing an investigation Of the law enforce
ment officers of the Government.