Evening star., 1952-09-30
The Political Mil

The Political Mil
Truman Label Pasted
On Stevenson Compoign
Illinois Governor Hos Stepped
Out Of Line Only Once
By Gould Lincoln
II any one had the slightest doubt Of
the Truman label on the Stevenson
nomination and campaign, it was
dispelled when President Truman set
out on his whistlestop tour of "a States
in the interest Of the election of the
Democratic nominee for President. In.
deed, the picture Of Gov. Stevenson
as an independent candidate-operating
in the higher strata of political atmos-
phere which many of his supporters
and the governor himself-sought to
paint for the American voters, is pretty
well obliterated. Mr.. Truman. himself.
threw the first rock at that picture. He
declared that the most important thing
IN the Stevenson campaign was the rec
ord OF his administration that the
campaign would have to be fought out
along that line. There was no denial
from Mr.. Stevenson.
The only time that Gov Stevenson
stepped out of line with Mr.. Truman
was when he mentioned the mess in
Washington" The loud growl from the
President-who said he knew Of no mess
in Washington-brought Gov. Stevenson
back into line in hurry. He tried to
explain that he was quoting someone
else when he referred to the 'mess in
Washington" Beyond that, the Illinois
Governor has. swallowed. hook, line and
Sinker. all of the Truman doctrines.
Some Of them he came to gradually-as
for example, his declaration for the
outright repeal of the Taft-Hartley
Labor Act, and his present stand for q
compulsory Federal FEPC, on which
he had slightly turned his back in his
earlier statements.
Program Would Continue.
The election Of Mr.. Stevenson. If it
occurs. will necessarily mean q continu-
alton Of the Truman program-and it
will mean the retention of many of the
Truman appointees in high Office. Presi-
dent Truman will be In position to claim
he elected Mr. Stevenson-if the latter
wins. Certainly the men who are out
working for Stevenson-most of whom
are either in the Truman Administra-
ton or are backing it, may expect to
remain. Only an migrate could kick
them out. In other words. there win be
no change" If Gov. Stevenson is elected
President-or change worthy of the
name. The Democratic nominee at
tempted to convey the impression he
will be independent" of the demands Of
any group, including the organized labor
group of leaders. But he came up stand
ing foursquare in favor of the demands
which the CIO has made in the matter
of labor legislation. Is this q sample Of
independence?
If Mr.. Stevenson wins the election.
moreover. President Truman will be con-
vinced that he won it for him. The
Stevenson campaign, despite its wit and
humor and excellent diction, has, ac-
cording to reports. been no ball Of fire.
The Governor has entertained the in
tellectualS-who claim that at last they
have something new in politics Presi-
dent Truman Is going out to win, II he
can, the common. run-of -the-mine
voters, Of whom there are many millions
more than there are intellectuals. II tho
President puts it across, his viii be the
victory.
The Presidents first speech aimed q
blow at Gen. Eisenhower, the Republi-
can nominee. who, the President said.
has been in the Army so long he doesn't
know what is going on in the United.
GtofaC ~
MIR. Truman would have welcomed
Democratic presidential nomination
and is reported to have sent word to
that effect to the general.
In this attitude Of former admiration
for Gen. Eisenhower. the President is
by no means alone. The present Demo-
cratic candidate for Vice President.
Senator Sparkman of Alabama, is try
ing to explain away his own open sup
port Of the General for the Democratic
presidential nomination. All he can find
to say is that he thought Eisenhower
might be a Democrat. When he an
nounced he was a Republican-his
abilities and excellent traits vanished
like the mist. The General was given
credit formerly by these Democratic
leaders for exceptional ability to deal
with knotty problems and with men.
Today, however, they claim he is q
"tool." little more than a simpleton, in
the hands Of sinister people. How stupid
do they think the public really is?
Incidentally, Gov. Stevenson, who
with much Righteousness proclaimed he
would have nothing to say about his
political fund" has made a full state.
ment Of both the contributors and the
benef1ciaries. Could he have been
smoked out by the Republicans? To
make it appear otherwise, the Governor
disclosed his own actual income tax re-
turns. which no one asked for.
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