Evening star., 1952-05-22
The Political Mill
6. O.P. to Call the Tune
On Democratic Moves
Platform and Nominee to Rest
On Republican Choice
The Political Mil
By Gould Lincoln

sSssS'"s Su0 tN0tbttuSS ~ NSSk
On Republican Choice
By Gould Lincoln
The Republicans will call the tune
for the Democrats when the latter get
down to the job of nominating a presi-
dental candidate and writing a plat
form. If the G. o. p, in national con-
vention, picks Gen. Dwight D. Eisen-
hover. the Democrats. when they meet
two weeks later, will necessarily couch
their campaign on domestic-not inter-
national-isSues. Gen. Eisenhower is no
isolationist. though he will assail some
OF the foreign policies of the Roosevelt
Truman administrations and their mis-
takes. On the other hand. if Senator
Taft Of Ohio is the Republican NOM
inee. the Democrats will make foreign
policy their major issue. BY so doing
they will hope to win to their candidate
those Republicans and independents who
consider the Ohio Senator too isola-
zionist and too little concerned with
national defense.
The potential Democratic candidates
who would fill the bill in a contest on
domestic issues against Gen. Eisenhower
include Senator Kefauver of Tennessee,
Vice President Barkley of Kentucky and
Senator Douglas of Illinois. There are
others, but these three would appear
the strongest. Against Senator Taft.
with foreign policy as the major issue,
the Democrats could turn to Gov. Adlai
Stevenson of Illinois or to w. Averell
Hartman of New Work present Mu-
tual Security Administrator. Both these
gentlemen have been closely identified
with the foreign policy of the Truman
administration and with that of his
predecessor. Gov. Stevenson was con-
nected directly with the State Depart
ment and also served as an adviser to
the United States delegation at the
United Nations Conference in San Fran
cisco in 1945. when the Charter of the
United Nations was written. Mr. Harri-
man. in addition to his present post.
has been an ambassador.
Would Have Chilling Effect.
The nomination Of Gen. Eisenhower
by the Republicans would, IN all prob
ability. have chilling effect. The
Democrats would find it far more diff
cult to draft" Gov. Stevenson, for
example. should Ike be the choice of the
@. 0. P. There has been recent talk
among Democrats and political OBJ
servers to the effect that, after all is
said and done, Gen. Eisenhower will
not prove as strong a candidate as has
been predicted. But there has been
nothing to date to indicate that Gov.
Stevenson has changed his mind about
the Eisenhower strength. There is a
strong presumption, however, that the
Illinois Governor would accept q call
by his party if his opponent were to be
Senator Taft.
Vice President Barkley and Senator
Kefauver could be counted on to run
period. They would take on either Eisen-
hover or Taft at the drop of a hat. It
is true that Mr.. Barkley has not yet
thrown his hat in the ring. The belief,
however. is that he will after the Demo-
cratic State convention in Kentucky
next week. In all probability. Mr.. Har-
riman would run, too, against Ike or
Taft.
1t is within the probabilities that Gen.
Eisenhower, by his speeches and in his
press conferences when he returns to this
country June /. will so clarity his stand
on major issues, both foreign and do
mestic. that the Democrats will be better
prepared to pick nominee to run
against him-Should he be nominated.
Must Make Position Clear.
Indeed. Gen. Eisenhower, despite his
reiterated remarks that he does not in
tend to campaign for the presidential
nomination, must make his position
clear on important questions Of policy.
If not, he will be accused of pussyfoot-
ing. 1t will be charged against him, too.
that he will continue to pussyfoot in
the national campaign, if he be nomi-
mated. Republicans, particularly those
OF the West, have made it clear they
want an aggressive standard bearer this
year. They would be gravely diSap-
pointed If Gen. Eisenhower, having re-
moved his uniform and gone on inactive
status so far as the Army is concerned,
should ensconce himself in an ivory
tower.
Defeat Of Gen. Eisenhower in the Re-
publican National Convention would do
much to solidify the Democrats. They
would scent another victory. AS badly
divided as they have been and are over
civil rights programs. they might find q
formula which would enable them to go
forward together if they thought they
had real chance to win. After all,
when President Truman eliminated him.
self from the presidential race, he
changed the picture entirely for many
of the Southern Democrats to whom he
has become anathema.