Evening star., 1952-04-26
The Political Mill
The Political Mill
Tobin Is 'Hutchet Man.
In Fight on Eisenhower
Attack Will Be Short-Lived
Once the General Returns
By Gould Lincoln

The Democratic administration is
opening up its attack on Gen. Dwight
D. EiSenhower-aS prospective nominee
of the Republican Party for President.
The hatchet man is Secretary of Labor
Maurice Tobin. Speaking at two success
Sive Democratic dinners in Indiana and
Maryland, Mr.. Tobin charged that if
Gen. Eisenhower receives the Republican
nomination it will be a sign he has
sold out to the bosses and the interests
which he, Tobin, maintains own the
Republican Party. He went on to give
the impression that Gen. Eisenhower
stands for nothing; that he conceals his
opinions from the people. and that out
side of a good military record, nice
smile and q knack for kissing babies,
he has nothing to offer.
Just how these Democrats are going to
make their attacks stand up is not yet
clear. Many of them will have to swallow
their own words-delivered when they
wanted to nominate the general for
President in 1948-and more recently
when they hoped President Truman
would be able to persuade Gen. EiSen-
hover to accept Democratic presiden-
tial nomination this year. Clearly they
must try to convince the rank and-file
Democrats that Gen. Eisenhower is bad
medicine-or else many of the Demo-
Gratis may vote for him. !,
Starts on Temperate Note.
Secretary Tobin started off on
temperate note regarding Gen. EiSen-
hover at Jefferson-Jackson dinner in
Anderson, Ind. He expressed regret that
"the Republicans have been able to lure
a great general into their political race
for the nomination" He added, Gen.
Eisenhower performed great public
service and built up great reputation
by sticking to the profession he was
trained for. In 1948, he expressed the
opinion that professional soldiers don't
make good Presidents. am sorry the
Republican politicians have changed his
mind"
Altering his tone of regret to strident
attack, Mr.. Tobin said: Il tell you that
a candidate who wants to win the Re-
publican nomination has got to give the
Old Guard Che meant an evil Old Guard1
satisfaction. He's got to give them as
Surance." He added Senator Taft would
have little trouble giving the Old Guard
satisfaction. and he concluded: IF
Eisenhower gets the Republican nominal
ton. it will be sign that he has"
In Cumberland, Md, the Secretary
increased the tempo of the Eisenhower
attack-although he did not mention the
general by name. "The Democratic
Party" he said, "is not interested in a
mystery man." He might have added it
is no longer interested in mystery man
and kept within the facts. 1T won't be
satisfied with smile or good military
record or knack for kissing babies.
1t wants man who stands for some
thing and has the decency to tell the
American people what it is. Why, if a
candidate ever told the Democratic
Party that he would conceal his views
on the major issues of the day until after
he was nominated. he'd be laughed out
OF the presidential race before he knew
what happened"
Attack Will Be Short-Lived.
OF course, Gen. Eisenhower, the target
OF these barbs. has never told the Repub.
llcan Party or any one else that he would
conceal his views on major issues of the
day until after he was nominated. He is
returning to this country the first of
June. He will deliver a speech in Abb:
lene, kans, which should give the coun-
try his views on the most important is
sues. He is planning to spend, according
to reports. much of the month of June in
Colorado. where he will be available to
leaders OF the Republican Party and to
the press. The mystery man" technique
OF Democratic attack, therefore, will be
Short-lived, and Intellectual.
In the recent Democratic presidential
preferential primary in PENNSYLVANIA.
some 10000 or 1900 Democrats took
the trouble to write Eisenhower's name
on their preference ballots. Democrats
IN other States where primaries have
oeen held also have signified an Eisen-
mower preference. 1t seems clear that il
ne Is nominee of the Republicans. the
general may be expected to get an ap-
preclaole Democratic vote and an inde-
Penoent Vote-needed to elect any can
didate for the presidency on the G. OTp
ticket.