Evening star., 1953-06-16
The Political Mil
Democrats Beat Bushes
For Vote-Getting Tricks
Ponder Off-Yeor ConcIuve;
Monthly Magazine Planned
By Gould Lincoln


Monthly Magazine PIonned
By Gould Lincoln
Democratic strategists are assaying
the political situation with q view to
an all-out drive to capture Congress
in the elections next year. They are
not deceiving themselves about Presi-
dent Eisenhower's personal popularity.
They admit it is still potent, although
their hopes have been raised in farm
sections and power sections of the
country. AS they see it, the Repub-
lican Party as such is doing nothing
to popularize itself with the voters.
They regard with satisfaction those
Republicans in Congress who oppose
Gen. Eisenhower on such issues as pub
lie housing, taxes and national defense
and on foreign policy.
Democratic National Chairman Mitch.
ell has been doing lot of travelling,
and believes that the party workers
are ready to go when the time comes.
He is going to Texas soon to spend
week on invitation of Texas Demo-
Gratis. The Lone Star State gave its elec-
toral votes to Gen. Eisenhower last No
vember. When it comes to the elec.
ton of members of Congress, however.
Texas voters are expected to stay
close to the old Democratic Party. Mr..
Mitchell is expected to do a lot Of
spade work in the State on national
issues, and presumably to get the
Texans to look with greater favor on
Adlai Stevenson, the titular leader OF
the party.
Welcome for Stevenson.
A Homecoming gathering of Demo-
Gratis in the Middle West to welcome Mr..
Stevenson after his return to this
country from his months-long trip
abroad, is under consideration. The
former Illinois Governor is due back
about August 8, and may take rest Of
several weeks after his arduous travel
ing, observing and writing. In Septem-
ber, it is suggested the Democrats Of
the Middle West may stage a big get
together, with their 1852 presidential
candidate as principal attraction. Last
winter, Mr.. Stevenson addressed i'm
portant Democratic gatherings In New
York and California. Logically, he will
make his next public appearance in
the central part of the country.
The suggestion that the Democratic
Party hold big conclave or even ma
tional convention in 1854 is still under
study by group of Democratic leaders
to whom Mr.. Mitchell referred it. While
the convention idea has its backing
among important Democrats, it has not
as yet made a huge number of con-
vertS. The Democratic National Com
mittee may be called together next fall,
and at that time the chairman may
report on the proposal for this interim
national convention. The expectation is
that if such gathering is held, it will
take place in June of next year. and
that it will be a party conference"
rather than a convention" The ad.
vocates of the plan believe that such q
meeting would give great sounding
board for the Democrats to open q
blistering attack on the Republicans.
They realize, however, that if they un-
dertake to write party platform" for
all Democratic candidates for Congress
they might run into lot of difficulty,
especially if the civil rights issue
should be brought up.
New Wrinkle.
Such a convention, if held, would be
a new wrinkle in politics. The major
political parties have confined them
selves to national conventions in the
presidential election years since the
days of Andrew jackson, when the first
national party convention was held.
The proponents of the plan argue that
a political party should keep abreast
of the issues that arise, and take q
position on them before every election
of national Importance. Republicans.
during their long 20-year period Of
being out of control of the Government,
held a number of regional meetings
"grass roots" affairs, they called them
but never tried for national con-
vention. The Democratic Party has
been strong on innovations, and 1t
might go for this one.
AS a matter of fact, the Democratic
national organization is launching a
new monthly magazine Of its own in
July-the Democratic Digest. This will
be the first time a major party has.
under the direct sponsorship Of its
national committee, undertaken such q
project on such scale. The magazine
is to be on sale to the public. Already
annual subscriptions are coming to the
Democratic National Committee in
large numbers. The magazine, which
is to be in appearance and in size
similar to the Readers Digest, is not
to be a Embarrassing device. It will
carry no advertising. The national
committee is hopeful that the money
received from sales and subscriptions
will be sufficient to pay all expenses Of
publication. It's flavor, of course. will
be Democratic and liberal. But an
effort will be made to make the publi-
cation of general interest to the public.