Evening star., 1951-11-04
Appointment to Vuticun
Hurts the President
Writer Believes Trumon
Will Not Run Again
By Fronk R. Kent

Members Of the Truman cabinet, such
as the ineffable Maurice Tobin and
others. whose continuance in Office de-
pends on Mr.. Truman. continue repeti-
tlouSly to rave about how much the
American people love him and how sure
1t is the ear-septuagenarian ticket Of
Truman and Barkley will triumph in
1852. However. the fact is that the num-
Der Of those who do not believe Mr..
Truman will run again has been con-
Slderably augmented by recent develop.
ments.
1t is worth noting that in the past
week three usually well-informed Wash
ington political writer's have gone on
record as holding this view. One of
these is Fair Dealer and a personal
friend OF the President Both the others
have revived the idea that Mr.. Truman
is now determined to nominate his
friend, Chief Justice Vinson as his sue
cessor. Perhaps they may turn out to be
mistaken and Mr.. Truman find himself
forced to make the fight. but more feel
the other way now than before the
Vatican INCIDENT. That seems to have
changed the minds of quite few.
1t is easy to sustain Presidents
argument that we. along with 42 other
nations. should have full diplomatic rep
resentation at the Vatican. 1t also is
easy to sustain the argument that this
conflicts with the separation Of church,
ano-state policy strongly supported by
great many people, including some ex-
ceedlngly important Catholics. What is
not easy to reconcile with reason is the
timing and manner of Mr.. Truman's
performance. There seems pretty gen.
eral agreement that in this he made
every possible mistake.
From the diplomatic. the political
and personal viewpoints he appears 10
have alienated considerable number
OF persons, managed the situation about
as badly as possible. These things ap-
pear inconsistent with an intended can
didacy. If he is a candidate, it just
makes no sense. In fact. the way he
did it makes very little sense, no matter
what he is. With slight chance Of ac-
complishing anything useful, he quite
needlessly raises a deeply controversial
issue about which many will hecome
excited and confused. This creates en-
oarraSsment in many directions and
tends to obscure really vital questions
IN the campaign.
In the second place, it seems estab-
lished that in reaching his decision Mr..
Truman consulted with no one in the
cabinet except Secretary OF State Dean
Acheson. Secretary of Defense Lovett
knew nothing about it until after the
appointment had gone to the Senate
Saturday afternoon. There was no con-
Sultation by the President with Demo-
cratic leaders. or with eminent Catho-
lie prelates or laymen or with the Sec
retary OF the Army, who is Gen.
Clark's immediate superior. Exactly
who had his confidence in this business
and who inspired him to act with such
suddenness and secrecy is uncertain.
No one seems to know.
1t is resented in the Senate because
the appointment was thrown into its lap
just before adjournment when there was
time neither to act nor debate. 1t can
not now be taken up until next Janu-
airy and the protests which have been
made indicate long and bitter hearing.
1t is resented by many Protestant min
listers and organizations who bristle at
any suggestion Of a link between the
Government and the church. 1t is re-
sented in the South, where Mr.. Truman
Is already weak and where it is held
another reason for opposition. 1t is re-
sented particularly in what often is re-
ferred to as "the Bible Belt"
And it is even resented by some i'm
portant Catholics on the ground that
the character of the announcement was
SO inept as to rob it Of dignity and re-
spect. 1t also promotes the charge Of
crafty politics" The extraordinary
thing is that apparently there was no
pressure on him to do anything. Take
all this. along with the other reasons
for the belief that Mr.. Truman has no
intention Of running in 1852, and it
makes formidable total The only real
pressure on Mr.. Truman to run comes
from the Federal jobholders who OBJ
viously have personal stake in per-
petuating his administration. He ought
to be able to see through that and not
mistake 1t for public demand.