Evening star., 1947-09-05

For a man who, at times, has
been almost loquacious, Gov. Dewey
has held himself well in hand. The
country has not yet quite forgotten,
although it has almost, the walkie
campaign tour on which he ven-
tured only a few weeks ago. In
Idaho City, Idaho, he almost said
something about the Taft-Hartley
Act but he caught himself in time.
Other Republican candidates, such
as Senator Taft and former Gov.
Stassen, have noticed and COM
mented on the sphinxlike silence
Of the Governor of New York. Gov.
Dewey seems to forget that, as the
Republican candidate for President
three years ago, he Is his party's
titular leader and as such has a
responsibility occasionally to allow
a pearl of political wisdom to drop
from his lips.
Almost Foolhardy.'
However, it must be said to Gov.
Dewey's credit that, only short
time ago, he did courageously say
that he believed in collective bar
gaining and the principle Of labor
unionism. Now this was almost
foolhardy in view Of labor record
that he has made in his own State
of New York to which union leaders,
whether rightly or wrongly, have
taken violent exception. Perhaps
one of these days he may even
announce his continued belief in
the Ten Commandments. But, In
the meantime, clasping anticon1mu-
nism firmly in his arms, he valiantly
dashed across the river, from Ice
foe to ice foe, just as Eliza did In
Uncle Toms Cabin" This was to
demonstrate that, although COM
munistic support had not been un-
welcome to him in 1914, he Is not
now to be outdone by the boldest
anti Communist of them all. Incl
dentally, entirely ignoring the big
Polish vote in this country, he de-
plored the enslavement of far-away
Poland "by a ruthless and dicta-
torial power" meaning, OF course,
Russia. Later, before the American
Legion convention, he lined up
bravely with President Truman in
favor of universal military training.
subject dear to the Legion's heart.
But what the country really would
like to know Is how Gov. Dewey
stands on the Taft-Hartley Labor
Act, on Federal housing, on the
Marshall Plan, on the Truman Doc
trine, on the cost of living, on the
bold raid of rapacious interests on
Indian properties, to mention only
some of the important issues with
which the next President must
deal. Gov. Dewey's notable reti-
cences on all of such subjects, II
they persist until next year, ought
to preclude any possibility OF his
emerging from the Philadelphia
convention as the nominee OF the
Republican Party.
No one would have believed a
year ago that, come 1947. Robert A.
Taft of Ohio would be the bold,
dashing candidate for the Republ1-
can nomination and Thomas e.
Dewey the timid, hesitating one.
Mr.. Dewey is likely to learn too late
that American voters do not like
either fumbling uncertainty, or a
refusal by the candidate to tell them
what he stands for. Senator Taft
will soon be betaking himself to the
hustings. He too will be going
West, not to pose with stereotyped
smile and with a fatherly hand on
the shoulder of each Of his two
young sons, before the camera squad,
but to discuss the issues of the
hour.
Senator Taft does not propose to
slip into the presidency while his
rivals are facing the people and
telling them what they stand for,
and why. One may disagree with
Senator Taft's political beliefs and
regret some of his actions, but one
must respect him, not only for his
intrepid thinking but for his forth
right speaking. Here is a man who
is not afraid, who does not stalk a
timid deer by waving red rag. Here
is man who will not equivocate or
evade He will not be content on
his campaign tour to hold whispered
conversations in closely guarded