Evening star., 1950-02-18
The Political Mill
President Answers His
Republican Critics
Shows Contempt for 6. O. P.
In Coeky Speech
By Gould Lincoln

The Democratic rooster crowed and
tapped his wings before $500 elegantly
garbed diners at the huge National
Guard Armory Thursday night, and over
the air and television, to millions of
Americans across the land. President
Truman, Vice President Barkley and
Speaker of the House Rayburn - the
party'S Big 3-all took part in the crow
ing.
But Mr.. Truman, in the stellar role
exuded contempt for the Republican op-
position. His performance was strangely
reminiscent of the attitude of the Re-
publicans toward himself, during the
campaign of 1948-which Mr.. Truman
appears to have forgotten he won only
by an eyelash.
The scene in the Armory was one of
wealth. If the Democratic Party is the
party OF the poor. there was no evidence
OF 1T at this Jefferson jackson Dinner,
which probably netted the Democratic
war chest half a million dollars. In
order to put on this spectacle, the Demo-
Gratis hired and decorated the largest
building in the National Capital. They
paid two OF Washingtons ritziest hotels
the Statler and the Mayflower - to
serve banquet. complete with broiled
steaks and wine.
Air of Restraint.
Only Big Government could have ven-
tured on such mass production-with
thousands OF Government officials and
otnef recipients of Government favors
to pay the bill. Thomas jefferson and
Andrew Jackson, had they been present,
would have been amazed, and perhaps
chagrlned. All this elegance brought its
own air of restraint No one tore his
shirt cheering
Mr.. Truman in his cocky, opening
speech OF the 1850 political campaiign
took cognizance of the two main and
apparently most biting-criticisms the
Republicans bring against him and his
Fair Deal party. The first is the Re-
publican charge-and it is true-that
the President is committing the country
to continued Government deficit SPEND
ing and continued high taxes. The Sec
ond, the charge that the main issue be-
tween the Republicans and Mr.. Truman
is liberty versus socialism"
Mr.. Irumans reply to the deficit
spending, high tax lampoons contained
nothing new. He had to spend the
money. he said. for national defense and
world peace and to continue his Fair
Deal program.
But in his effort to deny that he and
his program are moving the country on
the road to state socialism, Mr.. Truman
1ell down badly. He attempted to ridicule
Republicans because they have been say
since early in the Roosevelt New DeaI'
that socialism lay at the end of the road
the Government was taking.
All any one has to do to answer Mr..
truman Is to to review the steps which
nave been taken along that road. Ever
growing Big Government is interfering
in countless ways with the lives of, the
citizens and denying them the right to
spend a considerable part of their own
earnings-by taking it away in excessive
taxation.
Danger to Liberty.
Gov. Dewey of New York. in a recent
lecture at Princeton University, quoted
the late Justice Brandeis of the Supreme
Court. liberal Democrat, in an attack
on the present course of the Fair
Dealers. Experience said Justice
Brandels, should teach us to be most
on guard to protect liberty when the
Governments purposes are beneficent.
The greatest dangers to liberty
lurk In 1nsidlous encroachment by men
OF zeal. well meaning but without under
standing
Gov. Dewey said also in his lecture
that Lenln, who brought Russia to COM
munlsm, had declared that socialized
medlclne-one of the major items in the
Truman program, lis the keystone Of
the arch" of communism.
Big Government has a way of pro-
tectlng its own. For example, it is now
seeing to it that no Federal admission
tax is paid on the $10O take" which
the Democratic Party received from each
guest at the Jefferson-Jackson Din
ner-on the theory that each of the
guests contributed" $100 to the Demo-
cratic Committee, and received a ticket
to the dinner as a gift. Who's a tax
dodger now?