Evening star., 1952-09-13
The Political Min
Why Should Stevenson
Wish to Look Back?
Speech BIoming the Voters
For 'Messes' Is Astonishing
By Gould Lincoln


Democratic presidential nominee
Adlai Stevenson, speaking in Los An
geles, said: "The Democrats prefer to
look forward :. :" No Republican will
blame Gov. Stevenson for that. Why
should Gov. Stevenson and his Fair
Deal supporters wish to look back-or
have the voters look back-either at the
Washington mess or the Far East mess?
Or, that is, too sharply? 1t will be the
chief task Of the Governor until Novem-
ber to cloud the minds of the voters
on the matter Of responsibility for these
meSSeS.
1t was trifle astonishing, however.
to have him tell the Californians that
if there is corruption in Government,
the people themselves are responsible
on the theory. presumably, they should
have elected other representatives. The
Governors technique is witty, wise
cracking and amusing. But deep down,
his chief desire is to keep the people
from thinking too often of corruption
in Government of softness toward Com
munists in this country and appease-
ment of Communists abroad, of Gov
ernment political favoritism, Of high
taxes and of high prices.
The Republican presidential candi-
date, Gen. Eisenhower. does not propose
to let the wool be pulled over the eyes
Of the voters Nor does Senator Taft of
Ohio. now scheduled and willing to play
major part in the campaign. They
have both pledged hard-hitting cam
paign.
Will Bear Down on Mess.
They both will bear down on the
Washington mess and the Far East
mess. Gov. Stevenson's chief protag-
onist, President Truman, has insisted
there is no mess in Washington. He has
chided the Republicans for making at
tackS on the Government. Further in
the past, the President referred to Re-
publican charges Of Communists and
fellow travellers in Government as an
attempt to drag "red herring" across
the political picture.
Senator Taft, after his talk with
Gen. Eisenhower in New York. has come
out flatfooted for the generals election
and has urged all the Taft supporters
(who tried to get the presidential nomi-
nation for Mr.. Taft) to work and vote
for Gen. EiSenhower's victory in No
vember. On domestic policies, there has
never been any question that Gen.
Eisenhower and Senator Taft could go
along together. So far as foreign policies
are concerned, it is clear from Senator
Taft's statement that Gen. Eisenhower
has not retreated at all from his po-
sition favoring American aid to other
nations of the so-called free world
and American leadership. The Ohio
Senator said, however, that any diff
ferences between himself and Gen.
Eisenhower on foreign policies were
matters Of degree" rather than Of
principle.
Hope for Party Split Blasted.
So has blown up, at last. the belief
and hope of the Fair Dealers that the
convention battle between Mr. Taft and
Gen. Eisenhower for the presidential
nomination had caused wide division
in Republican ranks, thereby making it
easier for the Democratic ticket to win
in November. Senator Taft has a big
following among the Republicans. His
present unequivocal decision to support
the Eisenhower Nixon ticket will heal
party wounds. 1t is so intended. 1t will
go far toward assuring Republican VIC
tOIy III OillO 1lllIlOlS anu Quiet SJaUeS
in which the Taft-for-President senti-
ment ran high in the preconvention
campaign.
In marked contrast-So far as party
unity is concerned-was the recent ac-
ton of the Democratic State Convention
in Texas. That convention went on rec
ord as favoring the election of Gen.
Eisenhower-and called on Gov. Shivers
and other officials of the State gov
ernment to work for Gen. Eisenhower
and against Gov. Stevenson. Louisi-
anas Democratic Governor, also. has
called for an Eisenhower victory. Not
since 1928 has the Democratic revolt
sentiment been SO strong in the South
and President Truman's announced in
tention to stump the country is increas-
ing, not lesSening, that sentiment.
Republican victory, if it comes, will
be due to support from the great mass
of so-called independent voters and
from diSSident Democrats. But prime
essential, too, is united Republican
Party. That, the Taft declaration has
gone far to insure.