Evening star., 1952-05-15
The Political Mill
Eisenhower No STRANGER
To Press Conferences
Will Be Pinned for Questions
Prepared by Toft Forces
The Political Mill
By Gould Lincoln

In little more than two weeks. Gen.
Dwight D. EisenhoWer-out of uniform
will be telling the American people
where he stands on important issues Of
the day. 1t has already been announced
he will deliver an address in Abilene,
kans.. his old home town-where the
cornerstone of building to house his
records will be laid on that date. Here
will be his first opportunity to give
his views on the situation which con-
fronts the American people, both at
home and abroad. This, it is expected,
ferenceS with the press, at which he
will lay himself open to questioning.
1t seems quite clear that upon Gen.
Eisenhower's pronouncements and on the
reaction of the people will depend in
major part the final decision which the
Republican National Convention will
make in July when it nominates
candidate for President. Since Eisen-
hover is a good general and believer
in preparedness, he may be expected to
be ready for the questions which will be
fired at him. both from friendly and
from opposition sources. His principal
opponent for the nomination, Senator
Taft Of Ohio, has already framed 81
questions and urged the general to
answer forthwith. Representatives Of
the Chicago Tribune and other news
papers which are supporting Senator
Taft will be on hand to press home these
and other questions.
Ticklish Questions Posed.
1t Is no secret the general is giving
xri11 IN IL
so. to such questions as: do you be-
lieve that the custer of Gen. Douglas
Macarthur from his Far East commands
was mistaken" do you believe the
Korean war was a mistake?" will you,
if elected President, step up the war
against the Reds in Korea. or will you
seek to draw out of Korea?" "What is
your position regarding the proposed
Federal FEPC law?" Where do you
stand on Federal compulsory health
insurance." Were you approached by
responsible leaders of the Democratic
Party with request that you become
a candidate for President on the Demo-
cratic ticket?" What would you do
about the Taft-Hartley labor law, keep
it as it is, amend it, or repeal it?" will
you support Senator Joe Mccarthy of
Wisconsin for re-election?" What is
your attitude toward farm subsidies?"
These are samples of some of the ques-
tions which will be hurled at him when
he meets the press They will be couched
in language calculated to put the general
in hole if possible. 1t should be re-
membered, however, that Gen. Eisen-
hover is no stranger to press conferences
and that in the past he has handled
them and himself remarkably we'll. De-
spite the fact that he will no longer be
speaking as a general of the Army and
as such able to brush aside questions he
believed should not be answered, Gen.
Eisenhower should do we'll in his coming
press conferences. He has said that if
the people want him for President they
know where to find me-" The people,
however, are entitled to know his views
on major public questions-which vitality
affect them-and he should tell them.
If he does not, it will be a shock to his
friends.
Answers Won't Please All.
The claim made by Senator Taft and
his campaign manager is that Gen.
Eisenhower will lose appeal and stature
with the voters if and when he answers
how he stands on major issues. What
they mean Is that Gen. Eisenhower will
offend various groups by the stand he
takes for or against important proposals.
The general, however, gives an i'm
preston of remarkable sincerity and
patriotism when he speaks. And when
he does speak out, he may win far more
votes than he loses. There is no inn
pelling reason why man should fade
out merely because he states his own
views and convictions. His views and
convictions may appeal to vast number
of Americans.
The proudest boast which candidates
for the Democratic presidential nominal
tion make today is: II can beat Ike!"
It is boast which Senator Kefauver Of
Tennessee made at the outset of his chase
for first place on the Democratic ma
tional ticket. It Is the boast which
Averell Hartman of New York. Mutual
Security Administrator, has made more
recently. Senator Russell Of Georgia
has said as much, too. They don't
bother to mention other Republican
candidates. There are some Democrats,
however, who do not believe the general
can be defeated. They do not claim they
can beat Ike" nor do they intend to
run against him.