Evening star., 1949-01-27
The Political Mil
Scott Calls on 6. O..
To Serve Ordinary Citizen
Follows Lead of Vandenbera In
Urging Moderation Prosram.
By Gould Lincoln.

ny UOW0 Lincoln.
OMAHA, Nebr, Jan. 27-The Republican
Party as the party Of moderation" playing no
favorite privileged groups but standing for an
even break and fair consideration for all-has
found another strong advocate in Representa-
tive Hugh Scott Of Pennsylvania, who was
elected Republican national chairman at the
beginning Of the Dewey campaign for President.
In this position, Mr.. Scott has followed the
lead OF Senator Vandenberg of Michigan and
Mrs. Margaret Chase Smith, Senator from
Maine. Mr.. Scott has made it clear that he is
against q policy ofs "me-tooism" for the Re-
publicans Equally, he has made it clear that In
this present day and age the Government, Fed
eral and State alike, has its duties to perform
for the ordinary citizen, and that the Repub-
lican Party must recognize this fact If 1t is to
make its appeal to the people
In his report to the Republican National
Committee in Omaha, Mr.. Scott urged that
"all approaches to the voter from the precinct
worker to national headquarters, should bs
sought constantly in order to find what the
people expect of their Government and in order
to explain in the simplest terms the Republic
can program as it affects the individual"
New for G. O.. p.
This is quite program and something new
for the Republican Party, whose leaders have
been laying down fundamental principles of
economy in government, of free enterprise, to-
gether with attacks on the state socialism,
which it maintains is the inevitable end of the
Truman new dealism, now called by Mr. Tru-
man "the fair deal"
Our faith in the right of the individual to
enlarge his opportunities in q free society,""
Mr.. Scott said significantly, carries inevitably
with 1t an obligation on the Republican Party
to shoulder heavy social responsibility" And
he pointed out that this means doing some
thing about the plight of the slum dweller, Of
the veteran lacking housing and Of the groups
staggering under the impact of imitation
This is large order, calling for q specific
Republican program, forward looking and hui
man enough to satisfy the ordinary man. It
is Mr.. SCOTS view that If the G. o. p. does
not come forward with the solution of such
problems in the light of the responsibilities Of
the State, the local community and the Federal
Government by means within the ability of
the taxpayer to support them, then "the dema.
gogues will rush forward with far less accepta-
BILE solutions" as he contended the Truman ad-
ministration is now doing.
Calls 1t Unfair Deal"
At the same time, Mr. scott coined para
phrase of President Trumans fair deal"-
which he called "the Trum n unfair deal'-and
asked series Of questions. Is it fair deal.
he asked, to spend more money for additional
governmental activities when the people are
asking for economy and reduction in expenses9
Is 1t a fair deal to widows and pensioners who
live on insurance to devalue the purchasing
power of their dollar still further through an
unsound fiscal policy? Is it fair deal through
expensive spending to endanger the savings ac-
counts and insurance policies Of more than
900 people? Is 1t fair deal to put the
Government into competition with private en-
terprise through the proposed partial national.
ization Of some industries? Is 1t fair deal to
increase the burden of taxes on some groups Of
our citizens while proposing tax exemptions for
other groups?
These are pertinent questions, but they do
not relieve the Republican Party from perform.
ing the services, or seeking to have the Gov
ernment perform them which are really needed
by the people. The late Senator William r.
Borah of Idaho stalwart Republican, at the
height OF the depression made significant
statement: "The people cannot eat the Consti.
tuition" This did not mean that he did not
believe in the Constitution, to which he was
devoted heart and soul. It did mean that the
Government has responsibility to relieve suffer.
Ing in emergency, and that constitutional ar.
guments were no help to hungry men, women
and children.