Evening star., 1952-05-16
Truman 10 Campaign
For Any Candidate
Picked by Democrats
By Joseph A. Fox


be.
Mr., Truman re-emphasized his
intention of trying to keep q
Democrat in the White House at
his news conference late yester-
day
He said that he has not decided
his candidate preference yet, but
gave a blanket Endorsement to all
the hopefulS thus far mentioned.
A reporter had commented that
Mr.. Truman seemed to assume
that the candidate finally chosen
would be satisfactory to him.
The President grinned and said
the candidate would be satisfac-
tory.
No Enthusiasm for Kefauver.
Mr.. Truman never has ap-
peared enthusiastic about Sen
ator Kefauver of Tennessee, first
Democrat in the race.
Mr.. Truman indicated he was
hopeful of getting to the Demo-
cratic National Convention after
the standard bearer has been
chosen at the July session in Chi
cago, but no plans have been made
yet. If he goes, he said, he will
make what he calls a Democratic
speech to touch off his intended
WhiStle-stop drive.
The President has always said
he would not take part in the ac-
tual deliberations of the conven-
ton, believing it would be un-
ethical. His presence after the
ticket had been chosen would be
free of this criticism.
Mr.. Truman also said he cer-
tainly would accept appointment
as a delegate from Missouri, but
that an alternate would have to
function for him. He has been
a delegate most of the time since
his election to the Senate in 1884,
he recalled. He was not a delegate
in 1948, but went to the final con-
vention session in Philadelphia to
receive the nomination and make
an acceptance speech. Democratic
leaders in Missouri have indicated
that Mr.. Truman will be put on
the delegate slate to be made up
May 26.
Asked About Hartman.
The President got into the cis-
cussion about candidates when Il
reporter asked, in effect, if W.
Averell Hartman, mutual security
director, was now his choice. In
view Of Mr.. Harrimans stout in
dorsement of the Fair Deal.
Stressing that he thinks very
highly of Mr.. Hartman. the
President said the New Yorker is
very capable and added he We uld
go all out for him, in event he
got the nomination.
The same goes for Senator Rus
sell of Georgia, Mr.. Truman told
another questioner, recalling he
had said that at least three times
before.
Mr.. Truman said he feels the
same way about all the candi-
dates.
A questioner said it had been
suggested that the Democratic
National Committee didn't have
enough money to put the Presi-
dent on the road in a dual CAM
paign with the nominee.
Party Always Needs Money.
Mr.. Truman laughed and said
he never knew a time when the
committee did have enough money.
Sometimes in 1948, he continued,
there wasn't enough to get his
train out of the station-but it
got out.
The President said he could not
do as much campaigning as in
1948, when he got started in June.
That was when he made the IA
nous political" cross-coun-
try drive.
Mr. Truman expects the party
platform to be in line with pre-
vlouS declarations since 1882. Peo-
pie always vote for it, he COM
mented.
Asked what other Presidents had
campaigned actively, Mr. Truman
recalled several instances.
He said Woodrow Wilson made
q sick-bed appeal for James M.
Cox in 1920. Then there was the
push for James A. Garfield engi-
neered by the retiring President,
Rutherford B. Hayes, in 1880. AS
a G. O. P. convention delegate,
Mr.. Garfield made a brilliant
speech for Gen. William T. Sher-
man. when James G. Blaine was
the favorite. When several inde-
cisive ballots failed to produce a
nominee. President Hayes urged
Mr.. Garfield for the honor, and
Mr.. Garfield made it on the 36th
ballot.
Just shows that a retiring Pres
ident has some power, Mr.. Truman
Quipped.
Vice Presidency Discussed.
A reporter wanted to know what
Mr.. Truman thought about taking
the vice presidential nomination,
now that he had declared himself
out of the presidential race and
was not going to run for the
Senate.
Mr.. Truman Joined in the laugh
and said he had no aspirations
in that direction. He recalled that
he had expressed his intention OF
doing as he pleased for the next
10 years. But, he added, he did
not know how he would feel about
that later on.
The President got in a mild
verbal rhubarb again with his
1948 opponent. Gov. Thomas E.
Dewey of New York. Reminded
that Gov. Dewey had said recently
that the Democrats rugged" agri-
culture prices that year to fright
en- the farmers, the President said
it wasn't so. and that Gov. Dewey
knew it wasn't. Just a political
statement, he jibed.
Tn Alhanv Gov Dewey rntorted .