Evening star., 1949-11-12
The Political Mill
COP. Seen Hompered
By Personal Ambitions
Stassen Led Pack in Full Cry
for Reorsanizing of Party
By Gould Lincoln

By Gould Lincoln
Less than IL hours after announcement
Of the results in New York's recent senatorial
and other elections the pack was in full cry
for rebuilding and reorganizing the Repub-
ncan Party. The great difficulty. however.
lies in the fact that there is still no agree
ment on how and along what lines the COP
should experience this change.
One of the first to sound of was Harold
E. Stassen, president of the University OF
Pennsylvania-former Governor Of Minne-
sofa and a candidate for the presidential
nomination In 1948. He is regarded as
already q candidate for such nomination
in 1852. Analyzing the election returns at
a National Press Club luncheon, Mr.. Stassen
said that the problem Of bringing the Repub-
lican Party back to its old victorious strength
had two angles First, he contended, it must
come to greater unity on important domestic
issues and second, there must be change
in mechanics.
Speaking for Himself.
Speaking for himself and the wing OF the
party he represents, Mr.. Stassen declared IN
favor of continuing bipartisan forelgn
policy for the United States-presumaoly
similar to the policy which has been de-
veloped since the war, policy that calls
for the rebuilding Of Western Europe and
strong opposition to the Communist advance
of Soviet Russia On domestic issues ne
was not quite so clear, although he said that
the COP must oppose the gravy train" pro-
gram of President Truman. To follow the
Truman program, Mr.. Stassen said. would
be just taking the United States down the
socialstic path which Britain has been fol-
lowing under the Socialst-Labor govern
ment there-with the same disastrous eco
nomc results and canceling OF individual
freedom.
On the side of mechanics, Mr.. Stassen
deplored the fact that the party has insisted
on sticking to regular organization channels
and has been unwilling to accept-or to seek
the aid of independent groups. The Demo-
cratic Party, he commented, has made good
use of the Political Action Committee Of the
CIO, similar committee Of the American
Federation of Labor, of the Railroad
Brotherhoods. Americans for Democratic
Action and other organizations. He sug-
gested the Republicans could get similar
organizations on its side in the campaigns
of 1850 and 1852, if they went about it the
right way. He failed, however, to mention
any, and presumably they will have to be
developed-the veterans might be good
field. Indeed, Mr.. Stassen was strong for
younger Republican candidates for Office.
particularly those who had seen service IN
the last war.
II GdKe any lOIlSef, IloWcFcI, 1OI
the opponents of the bipartisan foreign
policy idea to get into full swing The de-
feat of John Foster Dulles, Republican, for
the Senate gave them, as they saw it. their
opportunity For Mr.. Dulles had been q
leading architect. on the Republican side.
of the bipartisan foreign policy, with its
Marshall Plan, North Atlantic Security
Treaty and arms for Western Europe.
Lost on Domestic Issue.
Yet Mr.. Dulles lost the election. not be-
cause he supported the bipartisan foreign
policy (his opponent, Senator-elect Herbert
H. Lehman, was just as strong for this
policy but on the issue Of the Truman well
fare domestic program This however,
wish to junk the present foreign policy and
have the COP start hammering the Demo-
cratic administration on that issue.
year has passed since the Republican
debacle Of 1948, and the Republican factions
are apparently just as far apart as they were.
on both foreign and domestic Issues There
is, however. real part for the party to play
"a check on the extravagant advance Of
the country toward the breed Of British
socialistic government which seems to be
on the way. .s..-.s 81.
Too many personal ambitions still hamper
the party. Already there are whispers about
presidential candidates. for 1852. For ex-
ample, there is talk Of a Taft-Stassen alli-
ance, or Of their followers, to prevent .
nomination of Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower.
president Of Columbia University. They be-
neve they have already seen the last Of
Dewey threats.
It looks now as though only change in
the economic conditions In the country
could reverse the political trend. People
have money, employment and profits are
both high. High taxes and billions of dol
lars of continuing Government deficits
could radically make over the picture.