The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1948-10-28

less so by the fact that his two most
outstanding and concrete promises
are far beyond his ability to redeem
even if elected with a Democratic
House and Senate. One Of these is
Taft Hartley Act, for which a ma
iority of his own party in Congress
voted; the other is the enactment of
his so-called civil rights" program,
the opposition to which will be far
more determined and effective in the
next session than in the last.
Actually, it is only Governor Dew
ey's promises that really count in this
campaign, for, unless all signs fail,
no one else will have the obligation
and opportunity to make good on
them. In view of this, it is interesting
to note that Governor Dewey has put
out far fewer promissory notes than
the others. For one thing, he hasn't
had to. From the day Of his nomi-
nation, he has been the favorite in
the race and in better position to re-
sist pressure from the special groups.
As a result, most of his promises have
been made in generalities and to the
people as a whole instead of specifi-
cally to particular classes. 1t is true
that, if elected, he will take office
singularly free from special commit
ments, either as to jobs or legislation.
This does not mean that he has not
taken a firm stand on vital issues. He
has been clear in his Endorsement Of
the Taft Hartley Act and certainly he
could hardly be more concrete in sup
port of the present foreign policy.
Probably the most important and
specific OF the Dewey pledges are: (D
To reduce the debt and revise taxes;
% to "unsnarl, unravel and I'M
tangle" the Government machine.
Doubt is expressed as to whether he
can fulfill either Of these. Concerning
the first, the argument is that he will
not be able to revise taxes or reduce
debt because the cost of our foreign
policy and defense agencies, to both
of which he is completely committed,
will be 50 greatly enhanced next year
that the odds are he will be compelled
to raise taxes and add to the debt.
Concerning the second, the point is
made that other Presidents have tried
the "unsnarling, unraveling' oper-
alton and lamentably failed.
The answer from the Dewey inner
circle is that he may not be able to
do these things but he is going to try.
One way of increasing federal revenue
which he has in mind is to reform the
method of collecting income taxes,
which conceivably might add billion
dollars annually. Another is to elmi-
nate waste and reduce the Federal
pay roll so as to save another billion
which Senator Byrd says can be
done and in which effort he is eager
to help. If he can do both these things,
he can carry out both these promises.
Concedingly, they are not easy to 90;
but following sixteen years Of malad-
ministration by one party, he should
be in better position to succeed than
any President for a long time. The
question is how hard will he try? VIII
he take the postelection view that these
promises were solemnly made; that
their redemption is a matter OF good
faith and self-respecS, vital 10 him,
his party and the country?
Or will he feel it is not essential to
exert himself too much about his cam
paign promises; that the difficulties
are too great to tackle; that there is
no use making the enemies he must
make if he fights hard; that the people
do not remember or care; though moth
ing he said during the campaign had
quite the popular response as his "un-
snarling" pledge? If he takes this
view it would amount to reputation
of his pledges and those who know
him best are sure he will not do that.
However, he has reputation prece-
dent. The most spectacular and com
plete reputation Of party and per
sonal pledges in our history was by
the late Mr.. Roosevelt following the
1892 election. Elected On what was,
perhaps, the strongest and best plat
form either party had had in many
years, he not only failed to fulfill its
pledges o.. his own but went sharply
] in the other direction. With the single
exception of the anti-prohibition
promise, the whole platform went
"out the window" in less than a year.
And the great, credulous masses APP
parently did not care or remember or
resent. This reputation is one of the
incontroversial facts which the liter
airy eulogists of Mr.. Roosevelt alto
Opthpv avoid mentiOning