Jackson advocate., 1952-04-05
TRAIGHT
AHEAD"

NEW YORk - (Giobal) -
With Governor Thomas E. Dewey
OF New York out of the Presiden-
tlal picture, with the New York
State Legislature adjourned, and
with two more years in office and
no campaign of his own in the
offlng, the Empire State Chief
Executive can be discussed without
charge Of partisanship, even by
one who has supported him and his
political ambitions for II years.
a discussion Of Governor Dewey,
MS policies and philosophy should
be entered into at this time as a
oackdrop for the coming Presiden-
tlal campaign. Such a discussion is
important because, in retrospect,
1t appears that the Dewey cam
palgn in 1948, which drew violent
criticism from so many quarters
including stalwarts of his own par
ty, is today seen as having been
fundamentally sound, and repre-
sented an honest effort on the
part of statesman who put well
fare of country above personal am
bition.
The heart of the Dewey cam
paign in 1948 was unity of the
American people and general
housekeeping in our national gov
ernment. In the light of what is
being done and said in the present
political debates, the loud call is
for the very things for which Mr..
Dewey pleaded four years ago.
Last week the Washington Post
| Washington, D. CO. which has not
supported Presidential candidate
since its present ownership took
over in 1888, announced its sup
port of General Eisenhower. In
making the declaration, The POST
said, the American peopN
want thoroughgoing sweep
| they want housecleaningk
Housecleaning was one Of the kes
words in Governor Dewey's CAM
| paign talks in 1948.
But, more than talk today of
housecleaning is the plea for unity,
and supporters of General Eisen-
hover point with great emphasis
to the fact that the NATO Com
mander is the one man who can
bring unity to the American peo-
pie, citing his success in unifying
the heterogeneous groups in West
ern Europe into a harmonious
working contingent. 1t will be re-
called that the theme of Governor
Dewey's 1948 campaign was unity.
Some of his strongest admirers
sought to cruelty him for his con-
slant pleading for unity. But the
Governor, obviously mindful of the
needs and welfare of his country,
pressed on; and while he no doubt
lost many votes by refusing to
make demogogic appeal to class
es and sections, it is quite possible
that his refusal to do SO did more
to strengthen the American people
and the position of America in
world affairs, than any personal
gain he might have achieved even
the Presidency.
Unquestionably, it has been that
appeal to groups which has set
class against class that has con-
tributed to the present muddled
condition in Washington and the
breakdown in the morals of our
Government. Governor Dewey
should feel most proud of the part
he played in advancing his ma
tion's interest, and whoever wins
the Presidency next November will
win on the very kind of campaign
Mr.. Dewey waged in 1913; name
ly, unity of the American people
and housecleaning and unsnarl-
ing of the confused situation in the
nations capitol, Washington, d. c.
1t is clear today that America is
one nation indivisable, and belongs
to all the people whose interests
must be considered as a whole.