Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1952-05-03
TRAIGHT
AHEAD"


pressure is on General Eisenhower,
candidate for the Republican nom
ination for President, to open up
and explain his views on a variety
of topics One of the issues many
folk would like to hear "Mr." Ike
discuss is that of civil rights. 1t is
only fair that the voters should
ask candidate for his stand on
important questions and it is quite
likely that the General will give
his answers. The big point is the
timing-which is important in pok
itics as it is in mechanics.
Most probably the Eisenhower
big brass intends to have the can
didate take the field of battle, but
they may be wise in not allowing
the opposition to choose the battle
ground or the hour the offensive
is to begin. This has been one of
the weak spots in previous efforts
of the COP in Presidential cam
paigns. The Party has been kept
off balance, has been Unanswered
into positions to make statements
or answer questions at most un-
propitious times and under unfav-
orable circumstances.
There is hardly any need for
worry over likes failure so far to
speak out. For one thing, the very
company he keeps speaks we'll for
him :. Dewey, Duff, Lodge, Ives.
Driscoll, Saltonstall. There are all
good men and true-men whose DO
sition and stand on civil rights and
ell other American rights are be-
yond question. 1t is doubtful if
they would be so strong for Eisen-
hover or if he would leave his af-
fairs in their hands in they didn't
see pretty nearly eye to eye with
the major United States and world
issues.
Furthermore, these men, know
ing the score-domcStic and inter
national-will surely counsel the
General as to the mood and tenor
of the American voter. Just one
look at the motley crew opposing
the Generals nomination and You
can get clearer picture of the
man. For, someone said once that
you can judge man by the enc
mics he makes"
Negro Republicans certainly
shouldn't allow themselves to be
hoodwinked into joining the pres
sure groups, and Independents
doubtless will be patient. The de-
mand of likes opposition for him
to speak is not primarily in the in
terest of the public, but is a stra-
tegic move to injure the General.
Come to think of it, perhaps we
have had bit too much talk al
ready. We ought to be sick of so
many words from candidates. What
we should concern ourselves with
is what the candidate will do. We
want action. During the 1948 cam
paign, we had the word of the
President on civil rights, but we
are just as far away from legisla-
ton on that issue as we were then,
and we have had a Democratic
President and Democratic Con-
gress for the past four years. Do
we want talk or do we want re-
suits?
Frankly, what we ought TO ask
a candidate is not merely how ne
stands on civil rights, because any
of the really serious candidates
will be fer civil rights as a matter
of principle. The big question is
what kind of action will the can
didate take if elected to secure en-
actment of civil rights legislation.
No one has talked louder than
President Truman about civil rights
but he has not produced-and that
as what they pay off on. Why
the hurry about having Eisenhower
speak out. He can explain his
views on every major topic facing
the American people in two or
three speeches and as many press
conferences. In other words, it
will take General Eisenhower Just
about one hour-give him two DAYS
to answer every question, includ-
ing the Fl propounded by some of
his opponents. We might add that
many of the Fl questions are either
silly or tricky.
But since the General will be
home in June, more than six weeks
before the Convention, why all the
rush Let's let him make his own
campaign and then Judge him ac-
eordingly. If he talked about his
stand for six months, he'd simply
be repeating himself.