Evening star., 1949-02-09
Dewey Asserts 6. 0.P.
Is Split Wide Open in
Talk al Dinner Here
By Gould Lincoln


down the gauntlet to the ultra
conservative forces in the Repub-
lican Party in his first major polit-
tcal speech since the election, de-
livered at a Lincoln Day Dinner
here last night. Gov. Dewey came
out f1at-footed for a progressive
program, and demonstrated he is
still a potent political figure.
The Governor declared the Re-
publican Party is split wide
open"
Nine hundred guests attending
the dinner, sponsored by Repub-
lican members of Congress and
the League of Republican Women
of the District of Columbia at the
Mayflower Hotel, gave the New
York Governor an ovation before
and at the conclusion of his ad-
dress.
In light vein, Gov. Dewey COM
mented that he had been re-elect-
ed for a second straight term to
that somewhat mythical Office
know as titular head of the Re-
publican Party
Graduated to Elder Statesman.
1T is an ancient and honor
able Office. that carries with it the
theoretical right to speak for
the party. but no guarantee what
soever that anybody will listen
to you" Mr.. Dewey continued.
Il have been graduated at a
comparatively early age to the
role of elder statesman. which
some one has aptly defined as
q politician who is no longer a
candidate for any Office .,i
Urging a progressive program.
Gov. Dewey said:
Il propose that as a party we
turn our faces ahead and keep
them steadfastly in that direc-
ton. I propose that we build for
the betterment of the whole
American people, through every
legitimate device of government
for their security. = I propose
that, opposing every totalitarian
device, we fight ever to enlarge
the area of human freedom.
Party Urged to Move Forward.
"Adhering faithfully to the
principles repeatedly stated in our
platform. let us move forward
again-the party of progress IN
America. in behalf of human free
dom everywhere. :"
AS for the immediate future,
Gov. Dewey said lightly that. as
. result of the election my re-
lationship with this fair city OF
Washington will continue. as in
the past. to be merely that OF an
occasional visitor"
Recent events. "he continued.
"have made it clear that no Re-
publican President was going to-
live at 1900 Pennsylvania avenue
anyway. No Democratic President
is living there either. The White
House has been in Democratic
hands so long that. like the Gov
ernment itself, it's falling apart.
Nevertheless. Gov. Dewey did
not say that he would not be a (
candidate for political office in
the future. Nor did he repeat the
statement he made Immediately
after the election that he would
not be a candidate for a third
presidential nomina-
ton. His friends point out that
Gov. Dewey is only As years old
and in the best of health, and by
no means inclined to remove him
self from active politics. Whether
he will be a candidate for re-
election as Governor, or will be
a candidate for the Senate next
year, the New York Governor Is
not disclosing.
Gov. Dewey said that. without
seeking to find scapegoats or toI
make excuses. he would like toI
bring into the open one basic
problem.
SAYS COP Is Divided.
THE Republican Party is split
wide open for years. but we have
tried to gloss it over. We have
tried to deny it to ourselves and
conceal it. That doesn't work. I
suggest that we face it. get it
right out in the open and look at
it. Then let's see what we can
do about it."
Other speakers at the banquet