Evening star., 1952-07-31
The Political Mill
Both Parties Face Fight
To Keep Voters in Line
Neither Side Has Clear Sailing
In Presidential Compoigns
By Gould Lincoln

In Presidential Compoigns
By Gould Lincoln
HYANNIS, Mass, July 31.-Demo-
Gratis and Republicans alike reached into
the barrel and pulled out No. presi-
dental candidates. The United States Of
America is lucky in their caliber. One
Of them will be the choice Of the Ameri.
can people come next November. Cir
cumstances as well as personalities will
affect the voting.
The Democrats in counting their as.
sets for the coming campaign must in
standard bearer. They should include,
also, what the Republicans call their
"give away" program, plus the fact there
are more employed at higher wages than
ever before. The Republicans say they
can match Gov. Stevenson with Gen.
Dwight D. Eisenhower and have some-
thing to spare. They will have on their
side, too. a general desire for change
in party control of Government, par
ticularly because of the scandals un-
earthed in the Internal Revenue and
other bureaus, and because of high
taxes, high cost of living-and above all,
no peace. The Korean war is likely to
cost the party in power thousands upon
thousands Of votes.
Neither Has Clear Sailing.
Neither party has clear sailing-as
a result of desperate battles in their
national conventions. The Democrats
have cause to fear the outcome in
several Southern States. They tried
to make, the Southerners swallow the
so-called Moody loyalty pledge rule
and although they gave up and did
not kick the Virginia. Louisiana and
South Carolina delegations downstairs.
they left them both angry and cocky.
ready to fly the coop whenever they
desired. In addition. the Democrats
will find it difficult to sell their ticket
in some of the Northern States. In
New England, voters already are asking
who Stevenson is and why was Spark
man Of Alabama placed on the ticket.
The soreness in the Republican ranks,
caused by the defeat of Senator Taft
OF Ohio, who had many devoted sup.
porters among the conservative Re-
publicanS, has still to be eradicated.
A great many Of them have said they
would "Sit this one out" because the
man who fought the battles of the
G. O. P. for years, in Congress and
out, had been turned down by the ma
tional convention. Some of them de-
veloped kind of personal hatred for
Gov. Dewey Of New York, Senator Lodge
OF Massachusetts, and other Ike leaders.
In nominating Stevenson, the Demo-
nrQtS fIIraod q fHa Of
in their party. The Republicans on
the other hand, gave their progressive
wing boost when they picked Eisen.
hover. Neither Stevenson nor Eisen-
hover is an extremist, but more middle
of-the-road men. Those people who had
hoped for a showdown between the radi-
Gals and the conservatives are disap-
pointed.
StraddIe May Cost Votes.
The effort of the Democrats to
straddle on the civil rights issue, to
make time with both the North and the
South, may in the end cost them votes.
They wrote a platform which calls for
Federal legislation to set up a compul.
sorry FEPC, as every one realizes. al
though FEPC was not named in the
plank. Then they took Senator from
Alabama, who is against FEPC. as their
vice presidential candidate. The voters
in both sections of the country would
like to know just what the new Demo-
cratic administration will do II it is
placed in control. Some of the Negro
voters Of the North are already mighty
sick of the run-around they have had.
On the other hand, Sparkmans nomi-
nation is looked upon by Southern DEM
ocrats as just.a bit of dust in their eyes.
The Republican problem is simpler,
though it may be just as tough. It's .
question of getting the Taft Republicans
back in line. Already a. number of
strong Taft supporters have announced
their willingness to go to work to help
elect Eisenhower. Time will soften the
bitterness, and good organization. plus a
real. hard-driving campaign on the part
of Eisenhower himself. may put the Re-
publicanS back into power after 20
years. They must also convince the
people that they are not trying to turn
the clock back, or to give labor the little
end.
The Republicans now find themselves
up against campaigner who is as able
as Woodrow Wilson, with more of Roose-
velt's human flavor A great deal will de-
pend upon how well Gen. Eisenhower
measures up. Canned political speeches
will help him little. But his great sin.
cerity and simplicity might turn tiae
trick.