Evening star., 1953-08-30
Truman Role at ChicdgoPorIey
Puzzles Harmony Seekers

They have figured accurately
that their best bet in the face of
President EisenhoWer's over
whelming popularity would be
to conduct quiet and conserva-
tive opposition without name
calling and mud-Slinging. Up to
now. Mr.. Truman has seemed to
go along with this idea, but he
has said repeatedly that the time
will come when he will speak
out.
UneasineSS Mounting.
With considerable uneasineSs,
many party leaders are awaiting
his appearance in Chicago. They
think he may think this is the
time, and they definitely don't.
But how to stop him if he
chooses?
If the wraps come off and
Mr.. Truman lets 60 with a hay
maker at the administration,
party strategiStS believe this will
ruin all the good work done by
the Democrats in Congress in
the recent session. They feel it
will put the Democratic Party
instantly in a position of carp
ing and vindictive criticism
which will simply unite the pub
lie behind President Eisenhower
And it will of course make a
very sour preliminary for what
will undoubtedly be another
light and graceful presentation
by Mr.. Stevenson.
Furthermore, if Mr.. Truman
comes into Chicago in a mood
to make that kind of speech, it
will also bode i'll for any hopes
Mr.. Stevenson may have of au-
tomatically taking control of
the party. Mr.. Truman has dis
closed a continuing interest in
Frank Mckinney of Indiana, who
was his appointee as national
chairman until Mr.. Stevenson
won the nomination last year
and with it, the right to install
his own man, the Chicago law
yer, Stephen Mitchell. On his
recent motor trip East. Mr.. Tru-
man stayed twice with Mr.. Nc
Kinney, and he has already an
nounced that he will speak at
testimonial dinner for Mr..
Mckinney to be held in India
napolis October 10.
There is some evidence to sup
port the belief that Mr.. Truman
would like to see Mr.. Mckinney
returned to the Craftsmanship
when the National Committee
meets in Chicago: and in this,
of course, he would find allies
readily available among the sup
porterS of other presidential
hopefuls who feel that Mr..
Mitchell is simply a stalking
horse for Mr.. Stevenson.
Kelly Dispute Recalled.
CMr. Mitchell's position may
be made more difficult by the
fact that he has already been
in dispute with Chicago Demo-
cratic leader John j. Kelly, Sr.,
general chairman of the fund
raising dinner. Mr.. Kelly re-
signed Friday in a huff because
Mr.. Mitchell selected Senator
Gillette. Democrat. of Iowa. as
POSTMASTER for the banquet. Mr..
Kelly repeatedly wanted the Job
for himself and resented Mr..
Mitchell's interference.)
All in all, Mr.. Truman could
prove quite a problem for party
managers who had hoped to
make of the Chicago conference
a nice. quiet, well-behaved gath
ering in which everybody would
speak softly about Gen. EiSen-
hover and with unanimous hero
worship about Mr.. Stevenson.
1t won't be quite as moonlight-
and-roSes as all that. now that
Mr.. Truman is looming steadily
larger in the proceedings.
The problem of the Democratic
managers may best be summed
up, perhaps, in the paraphrase
of a famous song: How're You
Going to Keep Him Down on the
/ Farm, After He's Seen D. c.?
When the man involved is
Harry S. Truman. the answer
/ seems to be: You can't.
Tux Study in India