Evening star., 1952-08-31
Cultured Approach Seen
Handicap to Stevenson
'lombic Pentometer' Regarded
As Probable Disadvantage
By Fronk R. Kent

Friends of Adlai Stevenson. pridefully
though privately, started out by assert
ing that he is cultured intellectual"
many grades above the relatively un-
cultured Mr.. Truman. One of the most
acute and objective observers travelling
with the Governor-JameS ReSton Of
the New York Times-described his
speeches as being made in "iambic
pentameter." The cultured intellec-
tuals" of the left are enthusiastic over
the "philoSophic statesmanship" of his
utterances.
Now some Of them are not quite so
certain. Several Of the really practical
politicians in the Governors encourage
(and there are not too many Of them)
are sure that, If persisted in. this "cul-
tured intellectually" may become Q
genuine liability.
Also, distinctly, they can see no bene-
fit to their candidate If newspaper re-
porters begin to use such phrases as
.'iambic pentameter" in describing his
polished periods. In brief, there is some
apprehension lest Gov. Stevenson be re-
garded as a "highbrow" However de-
lighted his trends Of the far left, such
as Wilson Wyatt and Prof. Arthur
OSAANAoAAA6OAS JAss 040y VIC Wy lOtCly
literary style. it is conceivable that the
average voter may prefer to read or
listen to the plain-spoken Eisenhower,
who was never called cultured intel
lectual' in his life, who does not use
any $40 words and might not recognize
an "iambic pentameter" If one fell on
him.
This may seem a trivial point, but
tho oNtifinnorC ~
aware that seemingly trivial things
often have considerable effect in
campaigns and there is some anxiety as
to the possible popular reaction to an
authentic intellectual" such as Mr..
Stevenson has been proclaimed. Occa-
sionally the late Mr.. Roosevelt and Mr..
Truman. too Except when he speaks OF
the cu1). gave forth statement or
speech more or less linguistically per-
feet. But everybody knew that neither
ever wrote his own speeches or state
ments and the high literary level was
not held against him. This time MIR.
Stevenson, like Gen. Eisenhower, writes
his own. and If the plateau from which
ne utters is too lofty and the virtuous
cloak in which he is enveloped seems a
little too thick. the ordinary man.
slightly bored. may incline toward the
common-sense, If less ostentatiously
erudite, Ike.
While it ought not to be discounted.
probably this is one of the gifted Adlai's
minor problems. Certainly it would
seem so compared to the two others
which right now protrude. One of these
is the problem Of trying to reconcile his
descriptions Of himself as a moderate"
to the glaring fact that every left-wing
organization and every radical crackpot
IN the country is enthusiastically for
him. II there is one such organization
or one such individual for his opponent
they have not been revealed. In face
OF this and in face of the fact that on
the coastal oil issue he has taken the
left-wing stand, approved the Truman
yetoes OF the States rights bills passed
by Congress and lined up. with those
who believe in increasing the centraliza-
tion OF power in the Federal Govern
ment-in face of all this to call himself
moderate" seems little hard for MIR.
Stevenson to justify.
1t seems little like saying, "Me, too,"
to the Eisenhower middle way" speech
OF two weeks ago. In fact, the Steven
son claim Of moderation came right
after that speech. OF course, his stand
in favor Of Federal ownership Of the
coastal oil is directly opposite to that
of Gen. Eisenhower and not moderate"
at all. In justice to Gov. Stevenson
1t should be said that, when forced to
face this issue, he was on pretty hot
spot.
And that brings up the third Steven
son problem: What to do about Mr..
Truman? Quite clearly. and for OBJ
vious reasons, Mr.. Stevenson does not
want Mr.. Truman to make one Of his
whoop-de-doodle, whistle-stop, give
em-hell" tours. Quite clearly that is
exactly what Mr.. Truman is itching to
do.