Tribune Jany 23 53 The 33rd President Harry S Truman had scarcely left the White House before speculation as to his place in history began. Not that there was really anything new about that. Mr. Truman himself had seemingly been obsessed with that question for some time. Depending upon their politics and their prejudices, no doubt most Americans would have no trouble at all rating Mr. Truman as either one of the worst of Presidents or as one who, while perhaps not the greatest, ranks well up the list. Thats the trouble with trying to assess the historical stature of any President when he is on, or only barely leaving, the stage of public affairs. Most of us are too close to the times, and too affected by our emotions and our prejudices, to judge clearly. Already we have seen wide divergence in public comments. David Lawrence puts Mr. Trumans place in history as alongside of President Harding and concludes his administration will be remembered because of mink coats and graft, just as Hardings is remembered because of Teapot Dome. On the other hand Lord Vansittart, former chief diplomatic adviser to the British Foreign Office, says Truman was a great President whom history may rank above Franklin D. Roosevelt. While not so extravagant in his praise, Winston Churchill lauded Truman for making great and valiant decisions and said he had headed a great period in American history. Well, we will have to wait a while for history to bring in any final verdict Meanwhile, as Harry S Truman returns to the independence and the Independence he has so often said he prefers, we can be very sure of one thing: he will always be the 33rd President of the United States and good, bad or indifferent he will always have his place in the history books.