The Evening Star (February 15, 1946)
Lawrence: Truman acting as if he feared loss of votes
By David Lawrence
WASHINGTON – President Truman may be finding the job of Chief Executive irksome, but he has the responsibility of service until January 20, 1949, and that’s a long way off.
The turbulence in the economic situation has now been supplemented by turbulence in the political situation, and it would appear that Mr. Truman will find it increasingly difficult to avoid making decisions that will antagonize this or that group of voters.
For a man who is reported to be disinclined to run for re-election, the president shows an amazing concern for the political sensibilities of many powerful voting groups. Indeed, if Mr. Truman really doesn’t intend to run as a candidate to succeed himself, it would seem that he has an unparalleled opportunity for the exercise of a leadership which in the end would bring a nation-wide demand for his continuance in office.
Mr. Truman has not been in the presidency long enough to appreciate the scope of his power. He does not realize that he has authority to command greater respect for the government than has recently been bestowed on that institution by various groups.
The law is specific
Thus, while the tugboat strike has been settled, the government of the United States still has the responsibility of prosecuting those individuals who caused the tugboat employees to stay out on strike after the government had seized the tugboat companies. The law is specific, and Mr. Truman missed an opportunity to uphold the majesty of the law when he allowed the attorney general to Ignore the happenings in New York after the seizure.
As the law is written, the mere calling of a union meeting is unlawful once the government has seized the facilities of any employer in any strike if that union meeting discusses in any way the question of resisting the government by concerted action of the employees. The workers have a right as individuals to decide for themselves whether they will work under government auspices; but their decision cannot be made in collaboration with others or as the result of any steps taken by union leaders.
The whole power of seizure has been flouted in the tugboat strike, and the chance to set an example by arresting those who violated the Smith-Connally law has been lost.
Roosevelt never faltered
The president has shown hesitancy to assert his powers. Whatever may be said concerning the wisdom of governmental action by his predecessor, Mr. Roosevelt never faltered. He had the courage to act and to make decisions. He did not fail to enforce the Smith-Connally law against those local leaders of certain coal mining unions who flouted the Government after the mines were seized.
Mr. Truman may not have any political ambitions. He may be content to be a one-term president. His political lieutenants would advise against any pronouncement by him at this time and they would hope that he might change his mind. But if he does not care what the pressure groups think and is willing to do what he feels is right, irrespective of what votes may be lost for a 1948 presidential contest, then he certainly should be adopting a vigorous course in protecting the public interest now.
Everything to gain
He would have everything to gain and nothing to lose by such a policy. He would gain the respect of all thoughtful citizens irrespective of party, and the odd thing to contemplate is that maybe he would increase his popularity to the point where he could not possibly lose the election.
The courageous course of Calvin Coolidge in 1919 in quelling the police strike in Boston electrified the country and gave him nation-wide applause which led to his nomination for the vice presidency at the 1920 national convention by acclamation.
Mr. Truman is not acting like a president who has eschewed political ambition. He is behaving as if he feared to lose any voting group at all and as if the thing he most wanted was to be renominated. As a consequence, he is showing a conspicuous weakness which is being talked about from coast to coast and which is giving the left-wingers encouragement that they may have a chance to nominate Henry Wallace.
There is nothing wrong with the desire of a president to succeed himself for one more term, but there is everything wrong with his inclination to get either the nomination or the election by avoiding clashes with powerful economic groups while the public interest suffers.