Evening star., 1950-07-25
The Political Mill
Tuft1s Reelection Seen
As Result of Korean War
Sordusm Turned on Senator
NoxlAppeurs to Fit Other Foot
By Gould Lincoln

The Korean war probably has assured
the reelection Of Senator Taft Of Ohio.
In the present crisis, the voters of the
Buckeye State will scarcely be inclined
to substitute State Auditor Joseph Fer
guso4 br the veteran Republican leader.
Too, mn. Taft suggested that the United
States*Mavy be used to prevent an In
vasiorG Of Formosa by the Chinese Reds.
He sah also, that the do-nothing policy
of this Government in the Far East, par.
ticularN China, was q departure from
American policy everywhere else In the
world. Immediately there was an out
cry-safcastic in the extreme and Joined
in by PRESIDENT Truman and Secretary Of
State Acheson-at the expense Of the
Ohio Senator.
Recent events put the boot on the
other Ieg. Mr.. Truman, who commented
he didn't know that Mr.. Taft was a mill.
tary expert, has now ordered the Amer
lean fleet to prevent Red invasion Of
FormoSa. Secretary Acheson, who COM
mente9that Mr.. Taft was "often in error
but meyer in doubt" seems himself to
have been sadly in error.
Demands Tax Increase.
Mr.. Taft is now taking a lead in de-
manding that taxes be increased without
delay to help pay for the $40 billion
outlay fhich the President has now rec
commended for building up our armed
forces. The tax increase, he contends,
will prevent undue imitation. Yet the
CIO4PAC and the AFL leaders are trying
to make it appear that Mr.. Taft Is doing
all he can to block Americas effort to
win this war in Korea.
One great trouble in the present situ-
alton js that the administration was not
prepa1ad militarily or any other way for
the changed situation which now con-
fronts It in the Far East. Another is that
the intelligence arm Of the Government
was nosmore effective before the Korean
attack than it was before Pearl Harbor.
Mr.. Eaft has planned for some time
to open his campaign in Ohio for re.
election August H. and he still plans to
do so. returning to Washington when
ever hiS4presence is needed for important
dehatesv and votes in the Senate. Likely
he viii suggest to the voters that there
is mistake in retaining an administra-
ton which has permitted this country to
get ftot the present mess-unprepared
to meesi iit-and which now claims that
becauSesof the mess, the administration
should b kept in power.
Il Controls at Issue.
His Oppsnents have argued that Mr..
Taft is fryng to block the war effort Of
the rninktration by criticizing Mr..
TrumanSs recommendations for grants Of
special Gontros over industry, ALLEGATIONS,
and so ron. Il is Mr.. Taft's contention
that th6se contols are not yet needed
and he yhas some support for this view.
Plans for the use of factories, automobile
plants and mills--for the national de.
fense-should be completed before any
of their present activities are shut down.
Yet once the powe- has been given to
the Government in Washington, it will
be used without delay.
It,was the farm VOTE in Ohio and other
Midwest States which enabled President
Truman to squeak though to victory
in TQ48. This vote has usually been
RspdbliGan. It has usually supported
Senator Taft rather thanhis Democratic
opponents. The Taft cmpaigners are
inclinedS to believe that the Ohio farmers
will NOT hesitate to vote for Mr.. Taft
rather than Mr.. Ferguson in the coming
elec&ionI It is field, however. that the
Ohio Senator will not overlook in his
countySto-county campaign.