Evening star., 1952-01-17
The Political Mill
Eisenhower Speech Set
In Eastern City in March
Acceptance Made in Advance
Of condidocy Announcement
The Political Mil
By Gould Lincoln


SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 17.-Gen.
Dwight D. Eisenhower has accepted an
invitation to deliver an important, non
political address In an Eastern seaboard
city the first week In March, It was
learned here today.
His acceptance was made week In
advance Of the Lodge announcement
that Ike Is Republican and recep-
tive candidate for the g. o. p. presiden-
tial nomination and the generals cor
roboration OF the Lodge statement. II
the engagement Is carried out and Is
not blocked in any way by more recent
or future events, the country will have
an opportunity to hear Gen. Eisen-
hover, himself, on important national
issues. and learn his position on them.
II this program is followed, the loud
screams Of Eisenhower opponents and
Taft supporters that the American peo-
pie should not be asked to support q
man for presidential nomination when
they do not know his stand on the
questions which vitality affect them
will have been answered-even II not
quieted.
Owes It to the Public.
It has been q foregone conclusion to
Eisenhower supporters that the general
would, at a proper time let the people
know how he felt about the issues Of
the day. They point out that Gen.
Eisenhower realizes that he owes 1t to
the public to reveal his position on pub
lie questions, since he has gone so far
as to say he would accept draft II it
came to him from the Republican Ma
tional Convention next July.
There is, apparently, nothing In the
way Of Gen. Eisenhower's returning to
this country six or eight weeks hence
to deliver a non-political address It Ii
inconceivable that II he does come here
at least one press conference will not
be arranged for the general-at which
he would be able to express himself on
many topics.
Furthermore, even should the program
which includes the address planned
meet with obstacles, Gen. Eisenhower
may be called before congressional com.
mittees to give his views on appropria-
tions for the NATO forces, and for eco
nomic aid to the Western European
nations.
tees, and 1t Is presumed there will be
plenty, would be In position to draw
from the general pretty clear statements
on what his positionAis on nearly every
domestic as well as international prob
lem. All are closely interviewer because
of the demands for huge funds for ma
tional defense and for the prosecution
of the war in Korea.
Third Avenue for Views.
There is third avenue for an express
sion Of views by Gen. Eisenhower. If it
becomes necessary. There Is nothing to
prevent the Eisenhower campaign man
ager. Senator Lodge Of Massachusetts,,
from stating the views Of Gen. Eisen-
hover on public questions, and, as he did,
when he announced he intended to
enter Eisenhower's name in the New
Hampshire primary for delegates to the
Republican National Convention, urging
that the press ask Gen Eisenhower in
Paris If he, Senator Lodge, has correctly
stated his positions. This Is not as salts
factory an avenue as the other two, but
it might be effective, at that.
Gen. Eisenhower. having taken the
important step Of announcing he would
accept presidential nomination even If
he would not campaign for 1t while occu-
pying his present important post in Eu-
rope. has in effect become q candidate.
And having become candidate, Gen.
Eisenhower Is not likely to relish the
idea of being defeated. Nor to take
beating lying down. He has been accus-
toned to victory. In many fields.
So, as the preconvention campaign
progresses, his friends expect such sup.
port from him as he can give, as Senator
Lodge put It, under the strict Army regu-
lations which permit an officer In the
regular army to accept o nomination
but prohibit his campaigning for 1t.