Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-12-31
The Political Mill
ADA Cleans Its Guns
For the 1854 Compuiqn
Not-So- Independent Outfit
Dominated by New Dealers
By Gould Lincoln

Action is preparing to 60 into action
again in the 1854 elections-and the
action will be for Democratic candi-
dates. judging from the past In 1.-THE
Story Of ADA" just released by the
organizations national headquarters, it
is described as Nationwide, indie
pendent. anti-C Communist. political or
ganiZation, dedicated to a three-step
program for making liberalism a more
effective force in the United States:
"a Formulating liberal domestic and
foreign policies based upon the realities
mocracy. (2) Enlisting public UNDER
standing and support Of these policies.
90 Seeking to put them into effect by
hard hitting, down-to-earth political
action through both major political
parties"
In the field Of national politics, the
ADA is just about as independent as
the Union League Of Philadelphia. It
was organized primarily by New Deal
Democrats. and 1t is dominated by them
today. Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt Is
honorary chairman-the widow of the
late President. It's co-chairmen are
James E. Doyle. Wisconsin Democratic
leader. and Prof. Arthur M. SchleSinger,
jr., of Harvard. Chairman of the ex-
ecutive committee Is Robert r. Nathan,
and among its vice chairmen are
Francis Biddle, Attorney General In the
Roosevelt cabinet: Democratic Senators
Humphrey of Minnesota and Lehman
of New York; Representative Franklin
D. Roosevelt. jr.. of New York. who
ocYNiroc m thu Dov,A tin ,nnvvn Iva firva
for Governor in 1854, and Walter p.
ganization devoted to the New Deal
Democrats.
ADA Explains.
Now, however, let the ADA speak
for itself on the subject of independ.
ence in the field of politics. It says:
Although ADA has most often found
itself in sympathy with Fair Deal Dem
ocrats" (which Is another way Of saying
New Deal Democrats today ut has
many good friends among liberal Re-
publicans." To prove its case, the ADA
points to its support of Stanley Isaacs.
minority leader of the New York City
Council, and Representatives Javits of
New York and Garfield and Case Of
New Jersey, in the 1852 elections. But
that's all. In local contests, ADA has
supported Republicans; for example in
one Chicago election, 1t Endorsed 46
Democrats and AZ Republicans.
The ADA is six years old. It has
$4,000 members, in 1875 chapters in 80
States. 1t is still growing, having
added about 5000 members in the last
year, 1t Is reported. Among it's IS vice
chairmen is a Senator who was once
Republican, Wayne Morse of Oregon.
Senator Morse is out to elect Demo-
cratic Congress next November II he
can-though he still classes himself an
independent"
The ADA's record in 1852 is Demo-
cratic. Before the 1852 party conven-
tons, some ADA leaders worked for the
nomination of Senator Kefauver of
Tennessee for overwhelmingly on
the Democratic ticket. Other ADA
leaders supported Adlai Stevenson for
the Democratic presidential nominal
tlon-indeed, the Independent Voters
OF Illinois, ADA's Chicago affiliate, was
the first organization in the country
to call for Stevenson's nomination. For
mer President Truman, early in the
year announced he would not be a
candidate to succeed himself, which
did not break some ADA hearts. And
some ADA leaders worked for the nom.
nation of Eisenhower After Eisen.
mower and Stevenson had both been
nominated, however. the ADA Endorsed
the Stevenson-Sparkman ticket.
Founded by Liberals.
1t was the Roosevelt New Dealers
who, in 1947, expressed fear that the
influence Of liberalism and of the
Roosevelt liberals was on the wane. Too
many OF them had been released by
Mr.. Truman. Also the Republicans had
captured the 80th Congress in 1916.
Inc organization came into existence.
and in 1948 many of its members
turned their backs on Truman for the
democratic presidential nomination.
But Mr.. Truman was nominated.
The ADA has particular distaste for
Senator Joe Mccarthy, Republican, of
Wisconsin.
Recently the ADA was startled BY a
DIT OF advice given its Massachusetts,
State convention in Boston by Foster
Furculo. Democratic State Treasurer OF
the Commonwealth and former Repre-
sentative in Congress from the Spring.
held district. In fact, it was stunned
when MIR. Turculo, who had been in.
Vlted to address the convention, adj
vised the ADA to dissolve and disband.
and suggested that its support was
the kiss Of death.