Politics

In the Mayflower Hotel's gilt-trimmed ballroom, the cheers and applause were unrestrained. There were even a few joyous rebel yells as Harry Truman appeared in the doorway, flanked by Mrs. Truman (in green) and Daughter Margaret (in pale blue). Harry Truman grinned and waved happily to the 2,000-odd Jefferson Day diners.* He could well remember the dismal days last fall, when all that Democrat bigwigs wanted of him was to keep out of sight.

Fresh in every mind was the cheering news of the Democratic comeback in Chicago (see Political Notes); the thought gave added zest to the diners as they pitched in to their $100-a-plate dinner. Over coffee and cigars, Gael Sullivan, the Democrats' national executive director, served up the main political fare. Said he: "In front of us today we have a leader--tested and triumphant. He is ... confident because of the people's confidence . . . eager to see and do the right because his, hopes have an abiding kinship with the people's hopes."

Only a few months ago these fulsome phrases would have had a hollow ring. Last week, stuffed with terrapin soup, lobster newburg and filet mignon, Democrats nodded approvingly.

Top Subject. Harry Truman did not let them down. His speech brought cheers and applause between nearly every paragraph. He started where he was strongest --with a firm restatement of the Truman Doctrine and a rawhiding of Russia without ever, mentioning her by name. Then, as the head of a political party speaking at a purely political dinner, he launched into politics.

He seized the chance to announce officially that the 1947 fiscal budget will be balanced, and even show a surplus. "That," he said, "was done without any Republican help."

He needled the G.O.P. congressional axmen, branding their appropriation cuts as false economies: "If the foundation of your house needs repair, or if the roof leaks, you know that you are wasting money, not saving it, by failing to make that repair." He put in this category Republican slashes which would curtail reclamation and soil-conservation projects, and force reduction in the number of customs and border guards, tax auditors and labor conciliators.

He made it clear that he would veto any bill that cut taxes at the expense of sound economy or that failed to reduce the national debt. "When a man is earning good wages ... he is wise if he uses his excess income to pay off his debts. He would be shortsighted if he cut his income just because he was not spending it all at the moment."

The President was feeling his oats. For the first time since last November, he was, politically speaking, on the attack.

* Conspicuous among the guests were Florida's Senator Claude Pepper and Elliott Roosevelt, frequent Truman critics. Conspicuously absent: Henry Wallace. A few hours before dinner time, he had left town for New York, explaining that he was too busy getting ready for his departure this week for Europe.

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