Evening star., 1953-12-03
The Political Mill
Eisenhower Assumes
His Porty's Leadership
Presidents Decision Seen
As Helping His Program
By Gould Lincoln

by 6ouId Lincoln
President Eisenhower has stepped
forward definitely as leader of the Re.
publican Party and warned Republic
cans in Congress that If they fail to
support and enact his progressive, dy-
manic program enhancing the welfare
of the people" they will lose the con-
gresslonal elections of 1854. The Presi-
dent was exceedingly blunt in his
statement, delivered at his press con-
ference yesterday. He said that If the
Republican Party fails to enact such
a program "it does not deserve to re-
main in power"
The President added that the future
of the Republican administration will
depend upon whether the party wins
the coming elections. Obviously a
Democratic controlled Congress would
be in position to hamstring the Eisen-
hover administration during the second
half of the Presidents term in any way
it saw fit.
The leadership of the party which
the President has assumed-and which
is considered a Presidents preroga-
tive-will be maintained, it is expected,
during the coming session of Congress.
The President will use his influence
and fight for the program which he has
promised soon to present. He spoke
hopefully of having it enacted, saying
he was convinced that the vast ma
jority of Republicans in the country,
as well as in Congress. feel as he does
about the necessity for dynamic and
progressive program of legislation. And
he said he was convinced that those
members of Congress who supported
such program will receive "the respect
and the support of the American
people"
Well-Timed Plea.
The Presidents rallying call to the
Republicans in Congress, delivered a
month before they assemble here, is
well-timed. Predictions have been made
that many Republican members Of
Congress will act independently on
issues presented in the legislative
program in an effort to save their in
dividual political skins. The President
has advised them that unless they are
prepared to hang separately, they had
better hang together.
The emphasis on the Republican
program and its success, contained in
the Presidents statement, gives less
important role in the coming campaign
to "McCarthyiSm" and the issue of
REDS" in Government-buti it does not
discount entirely those subjects. Indeed,
the President said that, the Republicans
having thrown all Communists and
fellow travellers out of the Government
by next fall, "the public will wish to
commend the efficiency of this adj
ministration in eliminating this menace
to the Nations security" He added
that the people must have the facts
on this important subject, and the facts
will be made available. In other words,
the Republicans, in the congressional
campaign, will point to the fact that
the Eisenhower administration has
turned the Commies out-in contrast
to the laXity of the Truman administra-
ton toward charges of Reds in Govern
ment. And the President said that he
would be as quick to fire any Com
munists or security risks" that are
turned up by congressional committee
Investigations as he would be quick in
dealing with those disclosed by investi-
cations of executive officials.
0s Os I . NV-OpCTdtIOu VlCdl.
Gen. Eisenhowers statement went
far beyond reply to criticisms of the
Eisenhower administration contained
in Senator Joe McCarthy's recent
widely broadcast speech, so far as the
coming session of Congress is con-
cerned The close political division in
both House and Senate makes it i'm
perative that the Republicans stick
together if the Eisenhower program
which will be the Republican program
is to have any chance of enactment.
In the last session, Gen. Eisenhower
had support on a number of important
votes in the House and Senate from
Democrats. Such support, however, is
likely to vanish in the heat of the
coming campaign, particularly in view
Of the acrimony developing over Re-
publican charges by Attorney General
Brownell and by Senator Mccarthy and
Senator Jenner of Democratic laxity in
dealing with Reds and fellow travellers
in Government during the Truman
administration.
The President apparently intends to
make his influence felt. His appeals
will be to both conservatives and liber-
ais in his own party. He has made it
clear he has stake in the congressional
elections, as well as the Republicans in
Congress. Victory, he maintains, will
rest on what the Republican Party does
to advance program in the interests
of the people. and on efficient admins
tration on his part.