Evening star., 1949-02-19
The Political Mill
6. 0. P. Urged to Dust Off
1q48 Platform and Use Il
Senator Ives Suggestion Is Held
Simple and Workable
Rv G0ulH T.incoIn

Senator Ives Suggestion Is Held
Simple and Workable
By Gould Lincoln
Senator Ives of New York has come up
with new idea for revitalizing the Repub-
lican Party-pick up the party platform
adopted by the Republican National Con-
vention in Philadelphia last June, dust it
off and 60 to work on it. It is so simple
that it seems strange in the recent plethora
of Republican speeches, delivered all over
the country at Lincoln Day dinners, it has
not been mentioned before.
Such a procedure at one stroke makes
unnecessary new national conference on
Republican policy and provides guide to
the Republicans in Congress.
That platform was recognized, when 1t
was adopted, as progressive. It dealt with
all the main issues Of the day-today-both
domestic and foreign. It was drafted by
committee representative of Republican
thought in every part Of the country. headed
by Senator Lodge of Massachusetts, himself
a leader Of progressive Republican thought
in the Senate.
At the time it was written, the comment
was widely made that for once party plat
form would have direct effect on national
campaign since it was practically fore
gone conclusion that President Truman
would call the Republican Congress back
into session, as it was called in August. The
Republicans would then have opportunity to
show the country they meant what they said
in this pronouncement of the party in ma
tional convention.
Leaders Muffed Ball.
The Republican Congress had the oppor-
tunity to remain in session-all summer If
necessary-and work on legislation the plat
form proposed. But the Republican leader
ship in Congress muffed the ball. 1t
adjourned within a couple of weeks with
nothing done Of significance. An excuse Of
fered was that the Republicans would wait
before going into this legislative program
until they had Republican President in
the White House. Had they stuck to their
knitting, they might have had a President.
Senator Ives has pointed out that this
platform provides chart for meeting a,e-
quately, within the limitations of free
government the needs and demands of The
ordinary man. He said, significantly:
Only by showing that our chief
interest is in the welfare of the ordinary
man can we win support of the ordinary
man" He might have added that only by
winning this support can the Republican
Party hope for victory in the future.
Senator Ives made his l-"-2o2al before
the Michigan Republican s e Convention.
which he called "the frs =, o. ant official
Republican gathering ST. the fateful Re-
publican reversal last -.ovenber g." He
added: This is no tir1e for recrimination
and biting: let lcse things end with
Omaha" a direct reference to the venom
filled meeting last month of the Republican
National Committee in the Nebraska city.
Without attempting to review the contents
of the Republican platform, Senator Ives
did indicate specifically the approach which
in
ing problems within the framework of the
platform He insisted the Republicans had
it in their power to parry the New Deal
threat to our free society,"
Program Outlined.
"In this way" he said. I'VE can favor
social security system which is comprehen-
sive, adequate and sound-without social
izing American industry; we can favor
uniformly high quality and standard OF
education-without Federal interference or
control; we can favor slum clearance and
public housing-without a Government pro-
gram which would drive private industry
from the housing field; we can favor an ef-
fective overall public health progranl-with-
out socialized medicine; we can favor price
supports for farm commodities, which will in
sure our agriculture against depression and
will help stabilize Dur economy-without
throwing our economy out OF balance
through inequitable and excessive subsidi-
zation; we can favor new undertakings and
projects in reclamation. conservation, flood
control. water-power development and rural
electrification - without destroying private
initiative and incentive but rather with the
assurance of increased opportunity for pri-
vate initiative and incentive. All these things,
and more, we can support through so mod
crate an approach that our national solvency
will be protected and our free economy will
be benefited"
Senator Ives did not argue for me too
stand by the Republican Party. On the
contrary, he said: I'VE Republicans do, and
must inevitably, differ with the New Deal on
either principle or method" He added that
the Republicans, where they differ from the
New Dealers on method, must offer sound
alternatives, and where they differ on prin-
ciple-as evidenced in the Republican stand
against the socializstion of the steel indus
try-they must fight the New Deal to the
limit"
The New Yorker has shown his Repub-
lican colleagues a road over which they may
travel. It remains to see whether they
stay on it,