Evening star., 1952-01-13

his country. Unlike the general, the
Senator hews to a foreign policy line
that seems to call for Americas
backing out of its current prominent
role in world affairs, to some extent
at least. He stands in foreign af-
fairs for all the ideas that Gen.
Eisenhower appears to oppose-and
on Just those grounds Senator Taft
is out to get the nomination or spill
somebody's political blood in the
attempt.
Taft's Assets
Behind him, Senator Taft has a
wealth of personal political skill, a
great deal Of money, machine
that up to now looks far more
powerful than Eisenhower's and
the pledged support Of a large
number of politicos who theoret-
ically can translate their support
into delegates at the conventions.
The Taft forces say they have
enough strength now to get their
man the nomination-an assertion
which last week impelled a 'front.'
rank Eisenhower man, Senator
Duff of Pennsylvania, to ask: IF
the Taft people have it on ice, why
don't they keep 1t there instead of
putting 1t out in the sun all the
time, where 1t is melting away like
it is?"
Also important in the early stages
of the preconvention race is the
fact that Senator Taft is free to
talk, to make as many friends (or
enemies, as the case may be) as
he chooses. He is available to the
press and public when they want
the authoritative word on his views.
Gen. Eisenhower, on the other
hand, must operate under VOW
of silence. AS a Regular Army
officer on active duty, he is hemmed
in by Army regulations against
campaigning-regulations he un-
doubtedly could get around If he
chose, but which he has elected to
honor in letter and spirit. He has
said he will not politick; having
announced himself ready for a
draft, almost anything more COM
initial than good morning" that
he might say now could be inter-
preted as politicking.
A DeIphic Cult
This strange situation in the
Eisenhower camp has built up
what might be termed a Delphic
cult-a group of people like Sen
ators Lodge and Duff who under
take to interpret for the public the
statements (and sometimes the
silences) Of their man. This Il
admittedly unsatisfactory. But il
is a situation that the Eisenhower
men cannot get Notwithstanding
they do not relish, but realize the!
must live with.
Because of this silence, there are
few issues on which the stand o.
Gen. Eisenhower is clear. Obvi.
ously, he is for American participa.
ton in the defense of Europe
Were he not, there would be NJ
reason for him to head the NATC
forces. Obviously, too, he favor'
universal military training, al
issue discussed elsewhere on thi'
page; his activities as Chief O.
Staff make that much clear.
But in reply to questions abou
the other burning issues of the day
Gen. Eisenhower's supporters cal
only resurrect statements he mad
in previous years when, as civil
ian, he was able to speak freely.
sOld Statements
This has its drawbacks, becaus
some of these statements date from
1948, the same year in which Ger
Eisenhower said that "the necessar,
and wise subordination of the mill
tary to civil power will be bes
sustained when lifelong pro
fessional soldiers abstain from seek
ing high political office" Peopl
on the fence about .Eisenhowe
would be justified in asking why
If he could change his mind abou
. that issue, he could not hav
: changed 1t about others. To thi
question, the men who like TX