DEMOCRATS: Any Man Has a Right

Democratic Elder Statesman Harry S. Truman, in Albany last month, said that if he were a citizen of New York State he would certainly be for Governor Averell Harriman for President. What if he lived in Illinois? Said Truman, offhandedly: "There are three or four good men in Illinois." This was widely interpreted as a crack at Adlai Stevenson.

Last week Harry Truman went to Chicago and made amends. Stepping down from his train, he was greeted by newsmen with a pointed question: "How would you vote if you were a citizen of Illinois?" Truman replied warmly: "There would be no question of where my loyalty would lie —with Stevenson." Then he added: "He's a friend of mine. I like him."

Later, at a press conference in which Adlai Stevenson sat briefly, Truman said that he had advised Stevenson to announce his 1956 presidential candidacy soon. He also gave himself a small pat on the back. "I was for Stevenson in 1952," said Truman. "If it hadn't been for me, he never would have been nominated." Before his press conference ended, Truman made a flat statement: "I will not take a public stand on any individual between now and the convention. Any man has a right to run for President."