Evening star., 1953-12-27
Kefauver Suggests
Democrats Form Own
Program in Congress
ByJ. A. o'leory

see called on fellow Democrats
yesterday to draw up their own
domestic program for the 1854
session of Congress, but to re-
frain from partisanship in for
eign affairs.
His suggestion was a reaction
to the recent legislative confer
ences President Eisenhower held
with Republican leaders. Sena-
tor Kefauver wrote to Senate
Democratic leader johnson of
Texas and to Adlai Stevenson,
titular head Of the party, pro-
posing that House and Senate
Democrats meet soon to discuss
q Democratic program for the
coming session.
His letter was another indica-
ton that, on domestic issues at
least, the halls of Congress will
reverberate this winter with the
rival efforts of the two major
parties to catch the ears of the
voters in the approaching Off
year congressional elections.
Morse Has Program.
At the same time, Senator
Morse of Oregon, the lone Senate
Independent, revealed that he
also will have his own legislative
program for the new session,
which convenes January 6.
The Oregonian was not ready
to announce his program, but
said he will give it to the Senate
on January 8, when he resumes
his practice of delivering weekly
reports on the activities of his
Independent Party.
Senator Kefauver pointedly
observed that the Democratic
leadership was included out"
of the recent White House con-
ferences, although Democrats
outnumber Republicans in the
Senate, 48 to Al, and are close
to a majority in the House. The
House consists of 219 Repub-
licans, 215 Democrats and one
Independent. On the basis of
these figures, the Tennessean
added:
'The real opportunity of en-
acting a program. therefore, is
ours in fact. It is an opportunity
that we did not expect this soon
after the elections of 1852. but
it is fortunate for the Nation that
it has come this soon so that we
can again steer this country into
a forward-looking, progressive,
prosperous, liberal path"
Hits Republican" Label.
In discussing foreign policy
Senator Kefauver said he hopes
the Democrats will not make
the mistake which I feel the
President is making, of outlinin.
what he refers to as a 'Republi-
can program in exclusive con-
sultation with the Republican
leadership" ''+ s
During all the years that a
Democrat occupied the White
House we had bipartisan pro-
gram" Senator Kefauver con-
tinued. LET us reinstate bipar-
tisanship into foreign policy by
refraining from any partisan ut
terances in this field, despite our
exclusion from the official politely
councils"
Senator Kefauver said the in
creasing perfection OF atomic
and hydrogen bombs require us
to re-examine our world attitude
out Of the purely selfish motive
of self-preservation." He also
expressed hope that President
Eisenhower's proposal for a new
effort among nations to work
together on atomic energy will
lead to "a long series of negotia-
tions and efforts to cooperate
instead of hate and fight"
The Tennessee Senator ex-
pressed the opinion that if a
Democrat was in the White
House now 1--WE can be sure from
history that these efforts at
negotiation would be stalled by
political sniping and partisan
ship"
To Protect President.
1--WE can be Of most help to
the Nation in this field by re-
framing from partisanship and
by protecting the President from
the partisans within his own
party in his progress down this
new path" Senator Kefauver
said
"Domestically, we are under
no such compulsions," he added.
He urged Democrats to take
the helm and steer the country
on a liberal" course. Domestic
ally, he said, the legislative pro-
gram should aim at reversing
the trend toward Government by
monopoly and wealth"
Senator Kefauver complained
that congressional committees
competing with each other in
the investigation of subversive
activities "have made us all look
ridiculous by their headline
grabbing tactics-by the frantic
efforts of various chairmen and
heads of executive departments
to get into the act" He called
for concerted Democratic sup
port for the proposed creation
of one joint House-Senate COM
mittee to handle all subversive
Investigations.
johnson Due Back.
Senate Democratic Leader
Johnson is due to return from
Texas early this week. and prob
ably will begin comforting i'm