Evening star., 1951-12-29
The Political Mill
Program Set by Stossen
Should Appeal to Many
Specific and Novel Proposals
Differ Widely From Toft's
By Gould Lincoln


Harold E. Stassen's entry into the
race for the Republican presidential
nomination of 1852 brought with it the
announcement of program which will
have strong appeal for many Americans.
In addition, Mr.. Stassen's proposals are
both specific and novel-and as he said
different from recent Republican pro-
grams. He is on record. for example, as
demanding widespread development of a
system of voluntary profit sharing for
labor and capital and management. He
oners 1t as cure for strife between cap
ltal and labor. which Mr. Stassen pre-
dlcts would finally tear the country
down to socialism unless checked.
Mr. Stassen is on record, too, in SUD-
port OF limitation on income tax
rates, with 10 per cent as maximum on
ioWer-oracket incomes and SO per cent
on the higher brackets. No other candi-
GATE has dealt as specifically with the
nlgn income tax issue, and none has Of
1ereo as specific plan to better labor
capital relations. Nor has any other
candidate gone so far as to demand
specifically return to the gold stand
ard, in fight on the present inf1ation-
airy process
Asks Dynamic Foreign Policy.
ihe former Governor of Minnesota
dealt, too, with the corruption
eminent problem which confronts the
nation, and with the all-important for
elgn policy of the United States. From
the Truman administrations foreign
pollcy failures, as he points out. have
come many of the present troubles
OF the American people, including the
threat OF war and tremendously high
taxes and high prices. Mr.. Stassen pro-
poses a new. dynamic foreign policy for
this country, avoiding the negative and
SOFT nternationalist-conta pol
icy OF truman and rejecting the "timid,
seml-lsolat olationiSt-defensiye" policy of
senator Taft of Ohio. His policy is
strongly opposed to the advance of Conn
munism anywhere.
When Senator Taft of Ohio made his
!ofmal statement of candidacy October
TO- ne. too, stated the major issues, as
ne saw them. Three main issues. he
SAID, were the restoration of a program
OF progress within the principles of lib
erty rather than the principles of
socialism, the restoration of honesty in
Government, and the foreign policy of
the administration. Senator Taft said
at the time he was going to run because
ne believed he could conduct the only
KIND OF campaign which will elect a
Republican to the presidency. Mr.. Stas-
sen, in his announcement, said he had
decided to run because of his belief in
his program. and because of my con-
clusion there is no other way to give
the people an opportunity to decide
upon that program"
Tireless Campaigner.
Mr.. StaSsen in the past has shown
himself to be an indefatigable cam
palgDer. able to arouse enthusiastic sup
port. While the belief has been widely
expressed Mr.. StaSsen is politically weaker
than he was in 1948-it has still to be
proved. He has said he intends to enter
many of the presidential preferential
prlmaries-where test of political and
voting strength may be had Certainly
Mr.. Stassen's entry into the Republican
race will add interest to the preconven-
tion campaign, and if he obtains a size
able bloc of delegates, his candidacy
may have direct and important bear
ing on the outcome of the Republican
National Convention next July.
AS between Senator Taft and Gen.
Eisenhower, regarded as the two fore
most potential Republican presidential
nominees, it seems conclusive that Mr..
Stassen prefers Gen. Eisenhower. Not
long ago, he called on Senator Taft to
withdraw and join in support of Gen.
Eisenhower. It appears, therefore. that
Mr.. Stassen's present entry into the
iY1T foITy
conference with the general, must be
construed as an intended step toward
the defeat of Senator Taft, whether
Gen. Eisenhower becomes a strong con-
testant or keeps himself out of the race
entirely In some of the primaries Mr..
StasSen may become rallying point for
voters who actually favor Eisenhower
and oppose Taft, if Gen. Ike is not en-
tered in the primary.