Evening star., 1952-07-31
The Stevenson Story
By Roger F. Lone
Assoeioted Press StoH Writer

ASSoeiofed Press StoH Writer
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,. July 31.-
Three close associates Of Gov.
Adlia Stevenson recently were
asked separately for capsule ex-
plantations of his political magic.
The replies, each reduced to a
word, were humility" " integ-
rity" and personal charm"
The fact is that Gov. Stevenson
is a rounded. complex man of
diverse appeals.
To the less fortunate among
his admirers. he seems a just man
who will seek to ease their bur-
dens.
To the strong among them. he
is an able, determined man, like
themselves.
To the scholarly, he is a man
of intellect who quotes st. Francis,
Voltaire and Lincoln.
To the party faithful. he is a
skilled practitioner of the politi-
cal art, popular man-even bet
ter, a winner.
Unusual Gift for Words.
The quality that mirrors widely
the many facets of his nature is
an unusual gift with words, a
genius for communicating lucidly
what he stands for to all who
would know.
Here is kernel of his political
philosophy as related to a New
York audience in telling the
kind of Democrat I am"
'I don't like interference with
free markets, free men and free
enterprise. I like freedom to sue
ceed or fail. But also know that
there can be no real freedom
without economic justice, social
justice, equality of opportunity
and a fair chance for every indi-1
vidual to make the most of
himself.
II am not worried about ruinousi
reaction on the one hand or
radical misadventure on the other,
because the American individuali
is a very sensible fellow :"
Multiplied Anxieties.
Some of his expressions on i'm
portant issues:
Communism-"CommuniSm re-
solves no anxieties. It multiplieS
them. It organizes terror. It
is without spiritual content or
comfort. It provides no basic
security
. IF western civilization is to
save its body, it must save its
soul too. 1t must awake again the
emotionalism, the confidence. the
defiant faith of a resolute breed
of men to whom liberty and JUS
tice mean something positive every
day-not just when war has re-
duced us to the stark issue of
self-preservation."
Imitation" as sinister an
enemy as Stain and far more
subtle :"
ReligiOn-"Ours is a time of
torment, trial and challenge =.
In the tense struggle for peace
on which rests peace itself, the
mighty and nightly neglected
power of the veritieS of religious
faith is our shield and sword"
Taxes-"The tax burden in this
country is due largely to the ma
tional defense effort. / would say
that perhaps it is wiser to spend
money, even in what appears to
be excessive quantities. to buy
insurance than it would be to
risk war and the cost of rebuild
ing the house"
Party Principle-"Who leads us
Is less important than what leads
us-what convictions, what cour-
age, what faith-win or lose. A
man doesn't save a century, or
a civilization, but a militant party
welded to a principle can"
COrruptiOn-"Where we have
erred, let there be no denial; where
we have wronged the public trust,
let there be no excuses. Self
criticism is the secret weapon of
democracy, and candor and con-
fession are good for the political
soul"
Public Responsibilities should
like to point out that public Off
eials don't corrupt each other;
that behind every bribe taker in
Government is a bribe giver, be-
hind every fix is a fixer, behind
every influence peddler Is some
one who wants influence, behind
every lobbyist is a pressure group.
Who are they? Why, they are the
people And sometimes they are
not cheaters and scum. but the
same respectable people who de-
mand that all officials in Gov
ernment by the governed should
be cleaner than the governed
cleaner than themselves"
Asian POlicy-"Desperately poor !,
struggling to shake off the shackles
OF white colonialism. Asia is just
now passing through the era of
revolution, independence and self
determination that swept the
western world long ago.
1T will take great patience.
great insight, great restraint {.
to win confidence and faith in the
great uncommitted areas of Asia.
It can't be done with the white
mans sword"
States Rights-"It must not be
forgotten that the States are the
source of all Federal Sovereignty.
That are the creators, not the
created. The Federal Government
was brought into being by them
to serve their endS-not as an end
itself
Il deplore the tendency of States
to abdicate their response
bilities :"
Divorce Called Liability.
Some observers regard Gov
Stevenson's divorce as political
liability. They differ as to the
extent of its effect on voters.
In 1949, Mrs. Stevenson OBJ
"a L.