Evening star., 1949-10-27
The Political Mill
G.O.P.Tukes on NewLook
BY Fight Against Stutism
Leaders Certain They Have an Issue
On Which Party Can Stand
By Gould Lincoln

A little less than year ago Macedonian
roar arose. The Republican Party must have
new look" The COP had recently suffered
an unexpected defeat-all the more devastat-
ing because so unexpected.
Party chieftains assert today that they
have their new issue against the Truman
Democrats both for the congressional cam
pa1gn OF 1850 and the presidential campaign
OF 1952-state socialism Or to contract it,
"statism" They are not SO sure that this
gives the party new look-for they con-
tend that Republicans have always been
against state socialism. They are sure, how
ever, that they have found an issue on
which all Republicans can take their stand.
An issue, by the way, which the Truman
Democrats have given them.
Several sub-issues, tying in with "statism",
include (a) economy in Government ex-
penditures CD lower Federal taxes 4c) de-
centralization, with the Federal Government
restoring to the States activities which it
has assumed and Cd an alarming softness
on the part of New Dealers and Fair Dealers
toward Communists and their fellow travellers,
There Is also the deep freeze"
Me-Tooism" Seen Ended.
Gone are the days, these Republican lead
ers insist, when Republican candidates for
high office will indulge in me tooism" There
Will be no going along with Mr.. Truman on
his domestic policies, which they contend
are leading inevitably to state socialism. They
point to the campaigns which are being
waged today by Senator Dulles of New York
and Senator Taft of Ohio, saying that these
men are leading the way for the Republi-
can campaign of next year. Even should
Senator Dulles lose in New York on No.
vember 8, they are confident his fight against
the Truman-b backed Herbert H. Lehman will
have helped to arouse the voters and con-
tribute to the anti-statism drive which will
be made next year.
The Statism issue is one in which the
so-called progressive. Republicans can join
as well rs their more conservative colleagues
For example, Senators Taft of Ohio and
Lodge of Massachusetts, can stand shoulder
to shoulder in this fight. And it will be
remembered that Senator Lodge last winter
led an unsuccessful attempt to dislodge the
Ohio Senator from the Craftsmanship Of the
Republican Policy Committee.
For the time being at least, the progress
sive fulminations of Senators Aiken of Ver-
mont, Morse Of Oregon and the two or
three other Republican Senators who go
along with them, have taken on a low
and almost muted note, submerged in the
shriller blasts against statism.
In this period, too, the Republican Ma
tional Committee has taken on a different
II not q new look. Guy George Gabrielson
OF New Jersey has succeeded Hugh D. Scott
OF Pennsylvania as chairman, which means
the anti-Dewey element is finally in charge.
The change was effected however, by q
narrow voting margin, so narrow as to con-
stitute warning that the party is by no
means "solid." except against the Truman
Democrats.
Silent on Candidates.
Scarcely do the Republican leaders mem
ton, even under their breath, potential can
didates for the Republican presidential NOM
ination. But those who do, picture the race
In 1852 as between Senator Taft and Gen.
Dwight D. Eisenhower, president Of CO.
lumbia University. Next to these two, they
place Harold E. Stassen, president of the
University of Pennsylvania and former Gov.
ernor OF Minnesota. And further back they
place Gov. Dewey of New York, Gov.
Warren OF California and Senator Bricker
OF Ohio-al of whom figured on the party's
national tickets in 1914 and l948 Senator
Iaft must win reelection next year and
so must Cows. Dewey and Warren if they
are to be in the running at all.
The talk OF Gen. Eisenhower, particularly
since his middle-of- -the-road speech, in
which he turned his back on anything tend
ing toward statism, for Republican presi-
dental nomination has been constantly on
the increase. Some of the leaders among
the younger Republicans are boosting the
former general. There is dark horse in
the field. too. in the person of Senator
Lodge of Massachusetts,, also war veteran.
The Republicans in Congress are making
their record. and that record has mainly
consisted Of opposition to Truman statism.
They have another session of Congress COM
ing up IN January where they must con-
tinue to make the issue. After all, when
the people make a change in administration
they vote against" someone, someone of
whom they are tired.