The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-10-09
BY JACK BELL

that Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower
-'the honorary Republican can
didate for president"-has surren-
dered COP leadership to Sen.
Robert A. Taft of Ohio.
In contrast, the Democratic NOM
inee said in speech prepared for
q party luncheon here, President
Truman has proved himself "a
man of independence who has
"rallied the free peoples against
the mortal threat of communism
and Russian Imperialism
The Illinois governor took the
political bit in his teeth on a flying
tour of Missouri, the Presidents
home state, to put into few words
. swiftly-developing trend in the
presidential campaign.
This trend has found the Demo
Gratis attacking Eisenhower as only
the tool Of Taft, the man he de-
feated for the nomination. It has
found the Republicans concentra-
ting their attacks on Truman and
saying that Stevenson must &C.
cept responsibility for any and all
administration plumbers.
Stevenson, who has been talking
recently of Franklin D. RooSevelt's
measures to fight the depression
Of the '30s, without mentioning
Truman, gave the President
home area send-off as "a blue
ribbon winner, among Democrats.
Noting that the President comes
from nearby independence, Mo-,
Stevenson declared:
"Harry Truman is certainly a
man of INDEPENDENCE. / think
that's the thing ! like about him
most. In your Missouri language,
he won't take anything off any
body.
mo one knows this better than
Joe Stain. And every Missourian
can be proud Of the fact that a
man from independence, through
a series of heroic and historic de.
cisions, has rallied the free peoples
against the mortal threat of COM
munism and Russian imperial
ISM"
In this strong endorsement of
Truman, Stevenson indicated he is
accepting the challenge of the Re-
pubIicans to back the Presidents
record-with the accent on foreign
policy. Previously he had avoided
too close Identification with Tru-
man, now whistle stopping in the
nominees behalf. Stevenson's
statement was considered an an
swer, too, to Eisenh0wer's caustic
references to a 1913 remark by
Truman that II like old Uncle Joe
Stain. Joe is decent fellow
Stevenson ripped into Eisenhow-
er and the Republican "old guard"
he said has taken over control Of
the party.
Asserting that Americans have
been sadly disillusioned" in their
previous belief that Eisenhower
was a man Of independence, Stew
enson said the general now con-
tends that party leadership de-
Ponds on the principle of com.
promise"
"There is a good deal to that, +"
Stevenson said. "but a skilled
party leader knows that the fatal
mistake s to begin on your prin-
ciples Of compromise-and TO end
by compromising your principles. :"
He said Eisenhower's meeting
with Taft in New York last month
when the great crusade became
the great surrender reminded
him Of the limerick about the lady
who rode on tiger and when they
came back from the ride the lady
was inside.
He said Eisenhower had become
only ''the honorary Republican
candidate for president" who was
following the line Of the COP old
guard.
He contended that In Michigan
Eisenhower had claimed 60 be a
"Vandenberg Republican who be-
heved In international cooperation,
but In Ohio he became a "Bricker.
Dirksen Republican" who did not.
He alluded 10 the views Of the late
Sen. Arthur Vandenberg of Mich
igan and 10 Sen. John Bricker Of
Ohio and Sen. Everett Dirksen OF
Illinois.
Stevenson said that these actions
Of Eisenhower, plus his endorse.
ment of the reelection Of Sen.
Joseph r. Mccarthy Of Wisconsin.
had caused the Chicago Tribune
10 call the COP nominee "the new
Eisenhower. /"
est may be the new Eisenhower.
but behind him ii is certainly the
same old Taft" Stevenson de-
clared.
The Democratic nominee con.
tended that Eisenhower Is follow.
ms TAFT in backing flexible farm
price supports and ia upholdsag the
Tatt-Hartley Act.
AS he was prepared 10 do In
major speech in ST. Louis tonight.
stevenson pounded away at the
seme that the Democrats have
Ids prosperity possible.