Evening star., 1949-08-21
Sees Republican Defeats
Result Of, ,Me-Too Tactics

Sees Republican Defeats
Result of,Me- 90 Tactics
G.O.P. Hope Lies in Strong Opposition
to Spending Policies of Democrats
By Frank r. Kent
Every now and then some oracular per-
son-generally one of our lf-anointed "lib-
erals" - jumps up to tell the Republican
Party what is the matter with 1t, what IL
should do to be saved. Such advice Is worth.
less for two reasons-O 1t comes from men
who do not want the Republicans to win
under any conditions; CD even II their
purpose were benign, what they say would
not help because it avoids the facts.
For example, they consistently declare tho
Republicans cannot succeed until they dis
card "Old Guard reaction" and identity
themselves with progressive policies which
appeal to the people" All this means IS
that the Republicans must go in the same
direction as the New Deal Democrats, coddle
the same groups and continue the same
spending pace regardless OF debts, def1clts
and dangers. Unfortunately this is what
the Republicans have been doing since the
day they fully grasped the power in that
tax, tax, tax, spend, spend. spend. elect.
elect, elect" idea enunciated by the late
Harry Hopkins.
In 1886, through that noble plan of buy
ing the people with their own money, the
Republicans lost the support OF three great
voting groups-organized labor, the North
ern Negroes and the farmers. Appalled, at
what happened. and lacking the CUTS and
sense to become strong opposition party,
based on the principle that this buying the
people with their own money is as wicked
as it is unsound, they actually tried to out
demagogue the New Dealers. to beat them
at their own game. This was incredibly
stupid.
The result was not to check governmental
expansion and extravaganza, but to enhance
them: not to cut costs but to pile them
higher; not to change the direction. but to
accelerate the pace. Oh they talked great
deal about waste, but when in 1946 they
gained control of Congress. they did nothing
about it. On the contrary. Republican unwill-
ingness to buck the pouring out Of the Federal
funds or to slash the Federal bureaucracies
was Just as great as that of the Democrats,
who talked some about it, too. Actually
there was then and Is now just one man
in the United States Senate, regardless OF
party, who is effective consistent and whole
hearted in his fight against waste.
If there had been few more, Harry Byrds
different At any rate. Senator Byrd's re-
cent victory in Virginia against about as
formidable array of coddled groups as could
be devised, ought to prove that they do
not constitute the whole country, or even
a majority thereof, and that a man who
stands against them for sound principle
can survive The Republican Party is full
Of men who believe in what Mr.. Byrd be-
lieves but become scared to death at the
suggestion Of actively and openly opposing
these groups. The same applies to the Dem.
ocratic Party, only more So as 1t Is definitely
tied to the groups and completely committed
to spend more, not less.
Reflection upon these things should make
1t clear why the Republicans cannot win. So
long as they remain true there Is little hope
for the country and none whatever for the
Republican Party. Two men have strikingly
pointed this out recently. One is Herbert
-Hovoer, whose great speech on his 18TH
birthday stressed the fact that today
one out of every seven persons directly or
indirectly is receiving Government money.
If those of age are married he added, this
would about equal the presidential vote OF
both parties in 194S. Think it over" said
Mr. Hoover. The other man who has
emphasized similar point for long time is
Rogers Dunn. who conducts the Dunn Sur.
vey. Of Greenwich, Conn.
Mr. Dunn contends 1t has not been the
labor vote or the Negro vote or the farm vote
that has so consistently defeated the Re-
publicans-but the payroll voters now well
above 100000. With their wives. sons,
daughters, ETC.. these amount approximately
to 1000, 900 on election days. Until they f1nd
some way to combat or diminish that pay.
roll vote the chances Of Republican victory
are small It is idiotic to believe the vast
bulk Of them do not vote for the party in
power. Undoubtedly this vote is an enormous
political factor. Nevertheless experience has
shown 1t can be added to the so-called
liberals" and to the special groups and
still fall far short of majority-that Is,
when a genuine alternative is offered.
In brief the country is conservative when
ever the issue is clearly drawn. 1t is neither
New Dealish nor Fair Dealish. 1t is not for
bribing the people with their own money or
for waste or the welfare state" or debts
and deficits. It is not for the direction in
which we have been going. But when the
Republicans try to compete with the SPEND
ers there really is no place for either con.
servative Democrats or Republicans to 60.
Large numbers Of them stay home. That
is what they did in 1948. and that is what
they Will continue to do no matter who the
candidates may be. So long as that situa-
ton exists the Republicans will lose and the
Democrats win. So long as that situation
exists there is not much chance Of change.
have been in the confidence Of the pair and
he sent them telegram of congratulations.
The wedding occurred the day Mr. Jerseys
(Mrs. Langtry's) horse Norman won the