Evening star., 1953-12-22

For Presidents Plans
Success Will Depend Upon
How Well the People Like 1t
By Gould Lincoln
The American people will await with
interest heightened by President Eisen-
howers conferences with Republican
congressional leaders his promised
dynamic and progressive" program.
With no less interest-if the program
pleases them-the people will watch the
programs progress in the coming ses-
sion Of Congress. The President has
given ample notice that he will exert all
his leadership and influence to have the
program adopted. If it means a battle
with Congress, he is committed fully to
it. He has done all he can to make the
program the big issue in the 1854 con-
gressional campaign, an issue on which
the Republican Party will win or lose.
The big test of the program will be:
Does it contain features which the peo-
pie want and which will make for con-
tinued prosperity, and for progress?
For, in the long run, economic condi-
tions next year are likely to decide the
elections. War. should it come, would
change all that. But peace is the peo-
pies hope-and indeed. the probability
during the coming year. Their desire is
for lower taxes and adequate national
defense, which may or may not be COM
patible. On the domestic side strictly,
American farmers want program that
will give them fair break in the gen.
eral economy of the country; American
labor wants an even break with business
management, and American business
wants, in addition to being let alone,
governmental planning against depreS-
sion which can be made effective with
out delay. In addition, the questions of
better housing, better education, bet
ter health protection and care and
increased social security press for &C
ton. International trade and how to
improve it Is another of the serious
problems, on the solution of which may
depend in considerable extent the coun-
try's economy.
President Took Initiative.
The President, during his three days
OF conferences with the Republican
leaders from Capitol Hill, took the
initiative firmly. He made all the state
ments emanating from the conference.
Had he maintained silence, there's
little doubt that congressional COM
ment would have rushed in to fill the
vacuum. AS it turned out, the only
congressional comment after the last
session at the, White House was lauda-
tory of the President and in general
agreement that the program would
delight the people, and that it would be
enacted. This, at least, was good
beginning of the hard fight which the
Eisenhower program may run into
when it is actually laid before the
Congress. For while the Republican
congressional leaders agreed in prin-
clple to that program, there will be
details that may divide Republicans of
the House and Senate. The President,
however, has taken the leadership and
must continue it.
The President includes in his pro-
gram foreign policy. which he has said
Will be tested in every element on one
rule: Does it advance the interests of
American" He stressed, as one item
OF foreign policy, the continuance of
strengthening the unity of the free
world to resist Communist aggression.
Obviously, the program will call for
further assistance to strengthen our
allies mllitarily. The details of such
assistance, particularly the total
amounts to be appropriated and how
the money is to be expended, may lead
to sincere differences of opinion. The
President, however, is determined to
take the lead here.
Difficulties Seen.
Dire predictions have been made that
the President will get little, if any, of
his program through Congress at this
coming session; that the Republicans
in Congress will be divided, and that
the Democrats, for political reasons.
will throw monkey wrenches. Gen. Eli
senhower, however, has fought other
battles and other wars. Strategy and
plenty of ammunition have been keys
to victory. In the coming congress
slonal wars, Gen. Eisenhower, with the
backing OF the people and with pro-
gram they recognize as in their in
terests, will occupy strong position.
1t is foregone conclusion that the
New Deal-Fair Deal Democrats-cer-
tainly the extremiSts-will find the Eli
senhower program lacking in dynamics
and progress. Like modern Cassandras.
these Democrats have already begun
propheSleS OF disaster. The Eisenhower
program, however, will recognize that
the Government, in a system Of free
enterprise, has important functions and
will propose improvements-in the way
OF social security and old-age assist
ance, for example. 1t will support
better defense for Jess dollars, too.
The Republican congressional leaders
and committee chairmen spent a total
OF 20 hours with the President. Nobody
was limited in the discussions of the
program. Certainly the President and
the Congressman must understand one
another-and certainly the Congress-
men came away with only praise.
Nae