Evening star., 1953-03-13
CoIun0nist
Speaks at
Luncheon
By Ruth Dean

0y Kutn Deon
The shooting down of a Brit
ish and an American plane by
Soviet jets this week, is "a timely
reminder to us of the extent to
which our affairs are not in our
own hands," Miss Doris Fleeson,
columnist for The Star, declared
yesterday.
Speaking at luncheon at the
Woman's National Democratic
Club, Miss Fleeson asserted that
such incidents drive away all
thought of politics.
1--WE must believe that politics
stops at the waters edge, and
stand together in these situa-
tions," she declared.
At the same time, the COL
umnist said that if she has any
criticism to make of President
Eisenhower at this time, "it is
that he has not taken hold with
as firm a hand as his overwhelm-
ing victory merits"
The President shouldn't have
to cater to Congress-, in the mat
ter of selection of diplomats, Miss
Fleeson asserted. She cited the
appointment of Charles Bohlen
as United States Ambassador to
Russia as one which should re-
ceive prompt consideration.
She also suggested that if the
President thinks the anti
enslavement resolution is i'm
portant, he ought to tell Con-
gress that "he thinks it's impor-
tant, and that he wants it that
way"
Miss Fleeson expressed appre-
henSion that there will be more
rather than fewer plane-shoot-
ing-down incidents. Contrary
to President Eisenhower's pre-
diction that the United States
shall be able to wind up any
commitments it has, she ex-
pressed the opinion that I'VE
shall make more"
Miss Fleeson said she agreed
with the statement made this
week by Senator Stuart Syming-
ton, former Secretary of the Air
Force, that we must face up to
the facts of our military power
and potential as compared with
the Soviet Union, and decide to
what extent our taxes as well as
our energies will go into war.
That's what the people ex-
pect of President Eisenhower, :"
she declared. She added, how
ever, her conviction that the
people are back of the President,
and that his trip to Korea was
"a ten-strike" for him. That the
youth of the country, as much as
the women. were behind him in
his election, is a challenge to
the Democratic party, she de-
clared.
That there is "a new look in
Washington" Miss Fleeson was
agreed, but lit is more than
bangs and Homburg hats" she
said.
Twenty years of Democratic
rule had pretty much run its
course" and the American peo-
pie wanted a change and we're
desirous of ending the stalemate
in Korea, she declared. She
added, however, that it looks as
though the American people
"have not said good-by to the
welfare state" The Republicans
promised to keep some social
phases Of government. she said,
and if farm prices drop, Presi-
dent Eisenhower may be forced
to promote a program which
would be an equivalent of the
Fair or New Deal"
In comment on congressional
Investigations, Miss Fleeson said
Congress should be reminded
that it is turning more and more
to Investigations which do not
have legislation as their object
She deplored the type of investi-
cation employed by Senators Nc
Carthy, McCarran, Jenner and
Representative Velde. They have
not been conducted responsibly
and have not brought about gooc
results, she declared.
Miss Fleeson spoke on a pro-