Evening star., 1952-07-12

ne FOiitICuI MIL Ay1
Eisenhower Still Facing
2 Other Big Hurdles
In Compoign He Must Goin
Votes Outside the Party
By Gould Lincoln
CHICAGO, July 12-Gen. Dwight D.
Eisenhower has cleared the first great
hurdle in his progress toward the White
House. The second is still confronting
him-the campaign; and the third, he
must meet on election day in November.
His strongest appeal, and the argument
which did more for him than any other
in his fight for the presidential nomina-
ton. was like can win" It was said
again and again and again that Gen.
Eisenhower would walk away with the
preSidency-provided. just provided, he
could win the nomination. The people
were for him. the story went. although
the organization" was supporting his
chief rival, Senator Taft of Ohio.
To win in November, the general must
1ldfC t1lC SICdt UldSS O1 ft6puDllCdu
voters. plus majority of the independ-
ents and some -administratio
Democrats. Largely, the job is in his
own hands. His campaign managers
who were derided first as amateurs
have shown an astuteness truly remark
able. Their timing could scarcely have
been better, from the date that Senator
Lodge OF Massachusetts, announced that
1ol III I.n
Republican, and that he was recep-
tive candidate for the nomination. The
general returned to this country from
his job in Europe-at the right time
after he had won significant victories in
important primary States and early
enough to give the country his views on
important issues.
Personal Popularity Counted.
Gen. Eisenhower's personal popularity
was responsible for an upsurge Of senti-
ment for him in many of the Southern
States, where political leaders and the
people were looking for a candidate
capable of Kidding them Of President
Truman, even a Republican candidate.
This sentiment was expressed in the
vigorous fights made to send Eisenhower
delegations to the Republican National
Convention. Here again the Eisenhower
campaign managers showed their politi-
cal sense. Taft managers were intent
on getting these Southern delegates in
the same old way-through the use of
small, intrenched organizations. as in
Louisiana and Texas. The Eisenhower
leaders turned the spotlight on these
contests. And then they played up the
operations of the Taft managers as 'im-
moral" and pure thievery." In the end,
the national convention took their view.
From start to finish the Eisenhower
amateurs" had the better of the Taft
professionals" so-called. The latter
group Included three former chairmen of
the Republican National Committee and
other veterans of political wars, State
and national.
Story after story went out that the
Eisenhower managers had botched
things, that they were fighting among
themselves, that they had made mis-
takes.
1t was ridiculous to name the Eisen-
hover managers amateurs" when Sena-
tor Lodge, Gov. Dewey of New York.
former Senator Harry Darby of Kansas.
Senator Frank Carlson of Kansas and
a.
both of New York, and Representative
Hugh Scott of Pennsylvania were in
cluded in the group.
Good Political Handling. saT
So, the general will have good politi-
cal handling. He has it within himself
to convince the American people that
he is capable as well as willing to look
after their interests; that he is sincere
and not political seeker. To any one
who has seen and listened to the gen.
eral this would seem simple job for
him to handle.
Whether he can carry any Of the
traditionally Democratic Southern States
is still guess. The Southern Democrats
might conceivably turn to the Demo-
cratic presidential nominee-if he does
not bear down hard in support Of all
the Truman program, including Fed
eral FEPC. Gen. Eisenhower, however,
promises better chance to the Repub-
licanS in that section of the country
than any candidate they have had in
years.
In the North and West, again Gen.
Eisenhower should be popular. He is.
when all is said and done, IAN old-fash-
ioned Kansas Republican"-hiS own per-
sonal view of himself. That. to many
Eastern conservatives, might mean rad
ical. It means, however, that he is not
an extremist-eithe way. Millions Of
young people and millions Of veterans
of the wars are inclined to support him.
Gen. Eisenhower looks winner. But, as
in most elections. great deal will de-
pend upon how strongly the people wish
to get rid of the administration in
power.
If they are fed up with the Demo-
Gratis, they have man to turn to.
Questions and Answers
The Stars readers can get the answer to
any question of fact by either writing The
Evening Star Information Bureau. 1900 I street