| Show domestic problems to test truman s mettle harmonious relations on foreign policy soon to give way to contention over difficulties of by BAUKHAGE news analyst and commentator service union trust building washington D C the political armistice in washington will end shortly after the presidents return from berlin the big three meeting followed so closely on the heels of the san francisco conference that foreign affairs have dominated the scene almost to the exclusion of domestic matters which sooner or later must test the mettle of the new administration another reason perhaps why president Tr honeymoon has been extended is the fact that the main issue before the country the united nations charter has been robbed of its partisan flavor this is largely due to the long and arduous efforts of former secretary of state hull he built up a working understanding on foreign affairs between the administration and the congress which resulted in the wholehearted whole hearted operation cooperation co of most of tle the leaders of both parties sturdily supported by public opinion secretary hull was able to achieve this harmony because of the confidence in which his former colleagues held him and also because of his experience peri ence as a member of the legislative branch of the government roosevelt could never have been as successful in this endeavor and because he realized that fully he left the matter largely in hulls hands chief still one of the boys in the first place president truman stepped directly from the upper house to the vice presidency and ever since he left the legislative branch for the executive he has been acting as liaison between the two shortly before president roose belts death I 1 had occasion to interview the then vice president I 1 talked about the forthcoming san francisco e conference on ference with him as well as the field artillery of which we are both alumni he indicated that he was holding aloof from any public participation in the discussions of international affairs but was attempting to carry on and to coin complement the work of secretary hull in promoting a sympathetic discussion of the dumbarton oaks agreement with members of the senate foreign relations committee the house committee on foreign affairs and others one of his first unorthodox acts was to take lunch with some of his old colleagues at the capitol this was almost as if the king of england were to attempt to enter the city of london without first having a formal parley with the lord mayor the presidents informal visits to the capitol hurt him nor his formal ones after his last appearance pe arance when he delivered the charter he lingered so long in the senate chamber shaking hands and patting backs that an aide had to hint gently that he a senator any more and must hurry back to his work his cabinet appointments are highly significant Tr secretary of state james byrnes is not 71 7 1 az all 1 1 vice president ident truman shortly before his elevation to the presidency discusses lis cusses politics and artillery shells with baukhage only a former senator but a former supreme court justice byrnes bymes provides an understanding link with the judicial branch as well as with the legislative the secretary of the treasury fred vinson is a former member of congress as well as an ex judge secretary of agriculture Mi anderson derson is not only a former member of congress but was head of the house food committee which directed some of the most serious criticism against the former administrations handling of the food situation this committee is now work ing closely with the new cabinet member while secretary of commerce wallace does not bring to his department part ment the close associations 0 of the men over whom he presided as president of the senate the scope and function of his office has been considerably reduced by the reorganization of the department and so is not a source of friction in his secretary of labor president truman has a man who was exceedingly popular in the senate another judge judg eLewis lewis Sch fear influence of party bosses of course when it comes to questions like the poll tax and the fair employment practices act or any other measure in which c h the r race a c e question is involved tf the e old friction c t 1 on arises with the southern congressmen and any republicans they can attract to their cause also while there are those who say that the president is steering a course much farther to the right than president roosevelt did he nevertheless is committed to a number of the so called new deal reforms both because of his record in the senate and because of his natural leanings however since truman is known to be a strong party man it will be easier for him to keep the southern democrats in line of course some of the radical new dealers are doing a lot of eyebrow raising behind the bushes and a remark perhaps written with tongue in cheek which aphea appeared r ed in the wall street journal sent shivers down some spines that newspaper which hardly depends on democratic support for its circulation said recently not since the short lived administration of warren harding has there been the prospect of teamwork as exists today it if the results of the berlin meeting are such that they reveal a marked improvement in big three relations and a harmonious settlement of some of the difficult international problems the presidents prestige will be greatly increased however by that time domestic discontent will be crystallizing the honeymoon will be on the wane and the president will need all the teamwork he can muster if the japanese war should by any chance end suddenly before another year it would mean that threats of inflation and unemployment and a hundred other problems will be upon us and dent truman will be stripped of his protective authority as commander in chief then the slings and arrows which even Roosevel ts enemies were wont to deflect to congress and other government agencies will be aimed squarely at the man in the white house peace will not be too peaceful at pennsylvania avenue |
