FROM WEEK TO WEEK

Grey River Argus, 21 April 1945, Page 8

FROM WEEK TO WEEK

(Bv

H. Winston Rhodes)

President Truman The death of Roosevelt may prove to be one of the most significant events of these last years of the war. It is scarcely an exaggeration to say that millions of people feel that the progressive cause throughout the world has received what is equivalent to a spectacular defeat, and the reason for this feeling is that so much, from the point of view of the postwar policies of the United Nations, depends on the attitude adopted by the United States of America. Roosevelt as president was a guarantee that his country would play its part in creating the international machinery required for the preservation of peace, a guarantee that the United States would make some attempt to introduce reforms which might have far-reaching effects upon world economy. It can scarcely be doubted that his death has strengthened isolationist and reactionary forces in America, and that all the opponents of the New Deal and Henry Wallace’s ideas concerned with the Century of the Common Man are preparing with renewed vigour to organ-. ise against progress. Nevertheless, although his successor, President Truman, is almost unknown in countries outside America, there is more than a possibility that* he will -endeavour to carry out Roosevelt’s policy. His record is unspectacular from the point of view of the cable headlines but nonetheless impressive. When Henry Wallace failed to obtain nomination lor the VicePresidency as the Democratic Convention and Truman was chosen in his place, Sidney Hillman of the C. 1.0. Political Action Committee said that “our support of Wallace did not carry with it -an opposition to another candidate,” and that Senator Truman was “eminently qualified for the office of Vice-President.” “The C. 1.0.” said another spokesman, “never opposed Truman. The only reason we never got to know Truman better, I guess, is that we always figured he’d vote right and so we’d let him alone.” The left-wing paper New Masses suggested that “had there been no such personality as Henry Wallace in the picture, Senator Truman would have been regarded by the labour movement and other progressive forces as the most desirable of the serious candidates and potential candidates.” The observation “we always figured he’d vote right” perhaps sums up the situation. Truman did much unspectacular work in uniting the win-the-war senators from both the democra-' tic and republican sides, and one of the advantages found when Truman became Vice-President was that he would replace Byrnes as assistant to Roosevelt—“ Truman’s ability to get along in the Senate would make Byrnes unnecessary—and fortunately Truman has the ability to say ‘No’ to other groups than labour.”

Nevertheless, according, to recent cable news, it is possible that Byrnes will again become chief adviser to the new president, an appointment which will not be popular among the more progressive elements, even if Truman has the ability to say “no” to other

groups than labour. Truman has never been hated by Labour. He has never been an isolationist. He was largely responsible for gaining support for the resolution on international collaboration. He came into the public eye as head of the Special Committee to Investigate the National Defence programme, and carried through a campaign which resulted in the saving of billions of dollars, the prosecution of profiteers, and successful attacks on Standard Oil, Carnegie Steel and powerful automobile companies which were hampering war-production. His voting record for New Deal legislation has been impressive. Truman is, of course, no socialist. He has never captured the imagination of progressive Americans as Henry Wallace did. Indeed, he was supported for the Vice-Presidency by the Southern Democrats because he was the only man who seemed likely to prevent the election of Wallace. If he is regarded as efficient, honest, and a hard worker, it is none the less true that he came to political power because he was, supported by the by-no-means-progressive party machine. In spite of these rather negative qualities it is certain that the American people could have looked further and fared worse in their choice of a Vice-President and successor to Roosevelt. Nor should it be imagined that the future of the world depends on President Truman. It depends on the American people and on all people throughout the United Nations. Leaders are always important, sometimes extremely important, but the people, if they wish, can have the final say. If it is correct to suggest that President Truman’s politics are to the right of the centre, it will depend upon organised labour and all progressive forces how far to the right of the , centre the president will move during the next three years.