Evening star., 1948-05-09
| Taft Sides With Dewey
In Opposing 5tassen' 5
plan 10 Outlaw Reds
BY the Assoeioisd Press

MILWAUKEE,, May 8.-SenatOr
Taft, Republican, of Ohio said to-
night he doubts that it would be
wise to ban the Communist party.
"As a matter of policy, it is some
what doubtful whether we gain much
by outlawing communism and driv-
ing the organization underground
said Ohio's "favorite son" candidate
for the Republican presidential
nomination.
Senator Taft thus took position
similar to that of Gov. Dewey OF
New York. Gov. Dewey has differed
sharply on the issue with the other
of the most active candidates for
the Republican presidential noml-
nation, Harold E. Stassen.
Mr.. Stassen favors banning the
party. He told a Washington news
conference today that stopping
infiltration of Communists may be
one of the keys toward stopping
World War III" Gov. Dewey. cam
paigning in Oregon, has described
Mr.. Stassen's proposal as totali-
tartan.
Should Not Curb Opinions.
Senator Taft said:
Under our Constitution, We can
not and should not make it illegal
for an American citizen to think
communism or express his opinions
so long as he does not advocate a
violent overthrow of the Govern
ment." He gave his views in speech
before the Executives Club of Mil
waukee.
The battle against communism
can be won only by advancing the
principles of free government, the
Senator argued. He said that to
accomplish that, TT is essential that
we have Government and Presi-
dent who believe devoutly and con-
sistently in these principles"
He criticized what he called the
'irreparable and destructive results
of the foreign policies of the Roose-
velt and Truman administrations,
He predicted that choice of foreign
policy will largely determine the
(presidentiaD election
Criticizes Stand on Reds.
"We seem to have been dominated
by complete inferiority complex to
Russia" Senator Taft continued.
Whatever they asked, they received
and gave nothing in return. The
administration and good many
prominent Republicans. misled by
the administrations attitude, urged
! financial assistance to Russia as
late as l947.
This failure to perceive the real
nature of communism was not
change. 1t resulted from the New
Deal philosophy of the administra-
ton accepted by many Republicans
and by many newspaper editors
throughout the country"
Senator Vandenberg, Republican
of Michigan, and the Republican
Congress have practically forced
the administration into definite
position against communism" Sen
ator Taft said. He added a hope
that the conflict between this coun-
try and Russia will remain propa-
ganda war.
! No Evidence of Soviet Attack. :
| 1.-The Russians up to this time
have made no aggressive military
move beyond the zone of influence
which was apparently granted to
them at YaFa," the Ohioan con-
tinued.
Their policy has apparently been
to advance communism in every
possible way other than by military
attack, and I know of no evidence
that they contemplate change in
that policy"
This country must proceed to COM
bat communism on the present
theory that peace will continue,
Senator Taft said, using such
methods as the European Recovery
Program, Voice of America broad
casts and the granting of arms to
friendly governments threatened by
Communist minorities.