The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1948-10-14
Ill Will

One of the interesting phases OF
this campaign is the suffering of the
confirmed journalistic and political
Dewey hatcrs, nearly all of whom are
New Dealish, left-wingish and CIO-
'ish in their natures and records. Few
of these can write piece or make Il
speech without using the word ''libor-
al" from two to twenty times.
These are the individuals who ever
since 1910 have sneeringly referred
to Governor Dewey as Little Tom, -
repeated with relish the Ethel Barry
more story of the bridegroom on the
wedding cake and glecfully circulat, d
venomous remark "You have to know
Tom Dewey well really to DISLIKE
him" Largely. inspiration for this
petty form of disparagement came
from the White House during the
Roosevelt regime 1t was typical IF
the late Mr. Roosevelt's attitude to-
ward those who opposed him. Sine
the Republican Convention, however,
this group has ceased to harp on
these strings.
One reason, OF course, is the strong
probability that Mr.. Dewey will be
elected President on November >. An
other is that the Dewey record and
performance make these stories seem
silly and continued effort to treat him
with contempt undoubtedly would 70
act upon those who try it. So that
form of detraction has gone into the
discard And those who most con-
spicuously practiced it are now
crowding the periodical and daily
press with articles about Dewey's eX-
traordinary ability as an administra-
tor and the amazing competence o.
the devoted coterie of friends who
constitute the dewey Team
But none of this means that this
transmitted enmity has disappeared
or that those who cherish it look for
ward to the Dewey election with
pleasure. On the contrary, the pros
pect causes considerable pain, ev;-
dence of which is to be found in new
lines of attack, plainly designed to
make trouble if and when he becomes
President. Some of this is absurd,
very little of it is important and lot
of it is malicious Several examples
can be given. First, there is the hope
full insistence that while Governor
Dewey is sure to be elected, the
Democrats will regain control Of the
Senate and Mr. Dewey will thus he
powerless to put through a program.
This, of course, is a possibility, but it
is a remote one. The fact is that il
Dewey is elected by anything like the
landslide indicated by the polls, he
will pull through the Republican
senators in all the states now class
fled as doubtful"
In brief, a decisive Dewey victory
means a Republican Congress in both
branches. Every experienced poll
tician knows this, and most of the
talk about Democratic Senate comes
from persons who would like to see
Mr. Dewey handicapped after he gets
in. Second, there is the hopeful in
sistence that Mr.. Dewey and Senator
Taft are bound to clash, with result
ing administration futility. This, too,
is remote possibility. The facts are
that Governor Dewey and Senator
Taft are now on exceedingly good
personal terms. A serious clash is the
last thing either would want. Clearly,
it would be disadvantageous political
ly to both. No one expects Senator
Taft to be blind follower of Pres;-
dent Dewey or to agree with him OF.
every point. But there are so many
reasons why real rift would be bad
for both these intelligent and pa
triotic men, bad for their party and
bad for the country, that those who
know them best regard the idea as
exceedingly far-fetched.
Third, there is the hopeful inss-
tence that the so-called "Old Guard"
in House and Senate will capture the
Republican party and Illustrate all
Dewey's plans. This, Of course, utter
ly ignores the facts that, as Pres-
dent, Mr.. Dewey will have a tremen-
dous lot of Federal jobs and Federal
favors to distribute through Repub-
lican members of Congress; that
these jobs and favors are Of great
political value in the states and DIS
tricts; that members Of Congress who
try to nullify the plans of a new
President automatically cut them
selves off from such Jobs and favors;
that the hostility Of a popular Pres
dent would be a great liability to
members of Congress. Every Prcsi-
dent has that. But that he will not
be able to get along with his own
party in the legislative branch is GER
tainly not borne out by his eight-yea2
record at Albany.
Nevertheless, these and similar
fa-aa..4. LII 49,, ;,,,,o Mt r 4I,,.,