On the National Scene (Vol. 13, Issue 6)

Of national interest, President Harry Truman’s message to Congress last week contained many interesting political ramifications. In his broad setting of domestic objectives the President failed, nevertheless, to present a plan for implementing these ideals. The speech sounded more like a Utopian prospectus, or shallow campaign promises if you like, than a president reporting to his nation on the plans for the coming year.

Truman’s proposals, in many cases, were undoubtedly forced into being by the gentlemen whose “heart is out of step with his mind,” Henry Agard Wallace, third party candidate. Mr. Wallace has performed a distinct function by forcing the Democratic party to adopt an alternative to the reactionary G.O.P. Right now, however, he would be performing a service to himself and the other liberal elements in this country by returning and working for improvement within his former party. Running independently, Wallace could accomplish nothing more than insuring the election of one Thomas E. Dewey, probable Republican candidate.

Mr. Dewey’s speech last week was quite entertaining. He employed his usual “straddling-the-fence,” vacillating technique trying to remain as staid and unprovocative as possible. He accused Truman of causing the inflationary spiral by removal of price controls, well knowing that his G.O.P. comrades in Congress were the ones who applied the guillotine to the device that could have prevented inflation.

As the field stands now, Mr. Truman should be enjoying his balcony in the White House for a long time.