Evening star., 1953-04-28
The Political Mill
The Political Mill
Eisenhower and Team
Druft Plans for 1854
No One Knows if President
Will Stump for His Porty
By Gould Lincoln

Will Stump for His Porty
By Gould Lincoln
With mind directed particularly
toward victory in the 1854 congressional
elections, President Eisenhower and his
new chairman Of the Republican Ma
tional Committee are giving attention
to the development Of an efficient,
fighting Republican national organiza-
ton. President Eisenhower'S interest
was evinced when he sat down with Ma
tional Chairman Leonard w. Hall for
a two-hour luncheon conference yes
terday to 60 over details mapped out by
the chairman and his aides. The
Chief Executive quite naturally is anx-
ious that the Republican control of both
houses of Congress shall be retained
and strengthened in the elections next
year. The success of his program and
of his administration during the last
two years of his present term in the
White House will depend largely upon
the result. Further. the result Of the
1854 elections and his programs prog
reSS may affect strongly the Presidents
own political future.
May Run Again.
Observers here reason the Presidents
desire to have strong Republican
Party organization is an indication
that the President will run again in
1856. From the same premise. how
ever, it might be argued that, If the
G. o. P. appears in strong enough po-
sition, Gen. Eisenhower might feel at
liberty to stand aside and let another
man take on the burden Of campaign.
Such a course would meet with strong
opposition, if the Eisenhower admins
tration is successful. from party man
ayers and the generals many sup.
porters. They will demand that he
stand for a second term.
Chairman Halls plans call for at
least three or four main aides. Miss
Bertha S. Adkins Of Maryland. assist
ant to the chairman and head Of the
women's division of the national COM
mittee, is being retained, popular ac-
ton on his part The other important
posts are executive director, director Of
organization and director Of publicity.
Appointments Due Soon.
Mr.. Hall is expected to name an
executive director from west of the
Alleghanies" and a director of publicity
this week, and director Of organiza-
ton as soon thereafter as may be pos
Sible. Chairman Hall Is serving with
out Salary-he accepts expense money
and his executive director, as well as
the director of publicity and director Of
organization will be salaried officials.
The structure Of the organization will
be changed in some respects. Chairman
Hall has had a committee of experts
working for the last two weeks to devise
the strongest kind Of Setup for the COM
ing campaign and, indeed, for the ma
tional committee as a permanent or.
ganization. Publicity, finance and or
ganization are the main objectiveS, and
each plays its important part.
AS the political leaders look at it, the
elections are just around the corner.
although the 83d Congress is still in
its swaddling clothes. Both the Repub-
licanS and the Democrats are busy with
their plans to raise money, and it won't
be any small sum, and to bolster their
chances in many districts and areas.
The So-called farm vote, the labor vote
and the Negro vote are looked upon as
prizes that must be won If possible.
Eisenhower Role Uncertain.
What part President Eisenhower him.
self will play in the congressional CAM
paign next year has not been disclosed
and probably is not now even guessed
at. Chairman Hall, when asked If the
President would make a swing through
the country to campaign for q Repub-
lican House and a Republican Senate.
merely said that was matter which the
President would have to determine. In
view of the Republican need for victory.
the President probably will be impor-
tuned to hit the political trail.
This year is a dry year for elections
which might give an inkling of what
to expect when the voters go to the polls
in 1854. Only two States elect Cover
nors-one Virginia and the other New
Jersey. Virginia will elect a Democratic
Governor, although 1t went for Eisen-
hover last year. In New Jersey, the
battle will be closer. but the Republicans
have been winning victories in State
elections there for considerable num-
ber Of years. AS Of today, there are no
vacancies to be filled in the House or
Senate which would be indicative of a
political trend. A few vacancies exist in
the House-all in districts strongly
Democratic.