Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-09-25
The Political Mil
Toft's Astuteness Seen
In New Trumon LobeI
High. Price-Harry' Tag RECOGNIZES
Chief Issue in 1913 Campaign
Rv CouIJ :..oJ.


SEATTLE, Sept. 25-With political astute-
ness, Senator Taft of Ohio, unannounced can
didate for the Republican presidential nomi.
nation, has undertaken to tie new label on
President Truman-"High-Pr Harry" In
doing so, the Republican congressional leader
is recognizing that prices and imitation may
well be the outstanding issue of the 1913 polit-
1cal campaign, transcending in Importance all
others, including the Taft-Hartley labor law,
lie mas also recognized that the best defense
Is attack-hence his San Francisco speech to
the Commonwealth Club on high prices,
IL was speech calculated to stir the bitter
resentment OF the Democratic leaders, who have
been counting on pinning responsibility for the
ever-increasing prices on the Republican-con-
trolled Congress-and especially on Senator
Taft himself. 1t did. Senator Lucas of Illi-
nols and Senator OMahoney of Wyoming
Democrats, In statement issued through tina
Democratic National Committee, called Mr..
Taft everything In the lexicon of vituperation
except traitor.
Old Political Axiom.
1t is an old political axiom that the voters
turn out the political party in control of ,,ov-
eminent when they are dissatisfied-especialv
with conditions affecting their pocketbooks
They started that process in the 1916 elections
when their pocketbooks were by no means as
thin as they have become since.
Hoping desperately to reverse the political
trend, the Democratic high command is charg-
ing the Republicans in Congress with the elimi-
nation Of the OPA and all control of prices
Higher prices since the Republicans took con.
troll OF Congress last January appear to them
the answer to their political prayer Democratic
propaganda and that OF the Democratic Party's
chief ally. the CLIO. have for weeks and months
been screaming that the cost of food and
everything else the people have to buy Is due
to the fact the Republicans opposed the con-
tinuance Of the Office of Price Administration.
All this has worried the Republican leaders
Mr. Taft, at present the embodiment of Repub-
Ilcan congressional policy, has launched the
counterattack in a speech which not only lays
the blame for inf1ationary high prices on the
Democratic administration but also presents
Republican program for the sterilization of
prices at new level and the assistance of
workers who receive subnormal wages
The people in this Western country are
vitality interested in this matter of high prices
Also they are confused. Except for the ex-
tremists on each side they are at loss where
to place the blame 1t is to this great in
between group that Senator Taft is now
appealing.
1t is difficult to predict what the price situa-
ton will be in this country year from today.
There is the possibility that prices will be
stabilized and even lowered through voluntary
campaigns to "eat less and by the exertion
OF Government control over exports-which
Congress has left in the hands Of the Presi-
dent. 1t may be that some Of the countries
now being aided by the expectation of
American foodstuffs and manufactured articles
will have been able to increase their own
production-and 80 affect prices in this
country. 1t is possible that costs Of production
may be held down through some sterilization
OF wages.
If these things happen-the price Issue In
the political campaign will diminish On the
other hand, If the prices continue to rise
and wages with them in the pattern that has
been In evidence, the people are going to ask
why and seek to place the blame One OF the
impelling issues In the 1916 campaign was the
lack of foods and goods. The people could
not get them because of shortages-not because
they did not have the money to purchase them
The people placed the blame on the Demo-
Gratis for these shortages and elected Repub-
lican Congress. Now the people are feeling
the pinch Of a devalued dollar, which will not
purchase. They are Disguised Many of the
housewives have listened to the Democratic
CLIO propaganda. as 1t Is easy to discover by
going into any market out here. Hence the
importance to the Republicans Of the High
Price Harry" campaign started by Senator Taft