OPINION: Doctor! Doctor!

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With the wonderfully grave and cockeyed air that the late Ben Turpin might have put on to play Young Doctor Kildare, the Chicago Tribune offered the U.S. a cure for all its troubles. The prescription was described in an editorial last week entitled: "How Truman Might Be Replaced."

"Many citizens hope he will belatedly confess his inadequacy and resign," it began. "If he does not do so, other methods may be considered."

"There is, of course, the process of impeachment," the Tribune noted thoughtfully, testing a scalpel on its horny thumb. It thought that Truman's "present offers to send hundreds of thousands of American boys to their deaths in Europe . . . fall easily within the framework of 'high crimes & misdemeanors.' " But the Trib was afraid that "impeachment, if started today, would fail for lack of Democratic votes." On the whole, it preferred a different course anyhow.

"Some of his recent letters hint at a mental deterioration such as reduced his predecessor to a shell of a man before death." So the Tribune wanted Congress to handle the matter exactly like impeachment, except that the "allegation of mental incapacity" would be substituted for that of impeachable crime in office. "The testimony of competent psychiatrists would, of course, be sought." Afraid that the patient would not submit quietly, the Tribune added: "Since Mr. Truman would still have his veto power, the actual accomplishment of such a process would probably still require a two-thirds vote." The Tribune apparently had not read the Constitution lately: its proposal has no constitutional sanction, and the President no veto on impeachment.