National Affairs: Against Trumanism

Ever since the Democratic Convention in Chicago, Virginia’s Senator Harry Byrd has been picking apples and refusing any public commitment either to Stevenson or Eisenhower. Last week, in a radio address, he came out of his political orchard. Said he: “I will not, and cannot, in good conscience endorse the National Democratic platform or the Stevenson-Sparkman ticket.” But he did not, in so many words, ask anyone to vote for Eisenhower.

He had hoped, said Byrd, that Stevenson “would give assurance that, if elected, he would change the course of Trumanism, a continuation of which . . . means ultimate disaster … I have looked in vain for any signs of such independent action.” Point by point, Byrd ripped into Trumanism, which he called the campaign’s main issue—”usurpation of power by the Executive . . . trends to socialism … inefficiency . . . profligate spending . . . fiscal irresponsibility . . . high and oppressive taxes . . .” He concluded: “I do not feel it incumbent upon me to urge the people to vote for any candidate.” The people of Virginia, he was sure, would “act wisely in the public interest.”

The strongly organized “Democrats for Eisenhower” in Virginia were elated, although it is doubtful whether Byrd will actively help their campaign. Earlier, Governor John Battle had come out for Stevenson and the regular Democratic ticket, and leaders of the Byrd organization are committed on both sides. Veep Alben Barkley furiously called Democratic defectors “like the woman who keeps her husband’s name . . . but bestows her favors to the man across the street.” As of this week, Stevenson still seemed to have slightly better than a 50-50 chance to carry Virginia.