Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-11
Eisenhower Throws
Oil on Troubled Waters
President Adopts q Decent
Attitude Towurd Opponents
The Political Mil
By Gould Lincoln

By Gould Lincoln
President Eisenhower is not using
his great Office to brand all Democrats.
or even few Democrats. as disloyal
or as traitors. or even dishonest. He
has counseled Republican speakers. too,
to be moderate in their attacks on
Democrats. Quite contrast to his
immediate predecessor in the White
House, who branded Republicans gen.
orally as thieves, rascals and minions
Of the wicked rich. or as men and
women who put property rights above
human rights. But President Eisen-
hover believes that the times are too
serious for Americans to indulge in
bitter partisan controversy. that Amer
leans should present q united front
against their enemies and not spend
all their energies in attacking each
other.
In the opinion of the President, there
should be bipartisan support of the
program which he has desperately tried
to devise in the interests of all the
people. He does not expect, he says,
that Democrats will support items of
the program because of personal
friendship for him. He does expect
them to act in the interest of the
country and vote for those items. It
is sound attitude on the part of the
President It remains to be seen
whether the Democrats will follow his
advice.
Oil on Troubled Waters.
The President, at his press conference
yesterday, endeavored to throw Oil on
troubled waters and so bring some kind
of unity in support Of his program.
Democratic leaders, among them Minor
ity Leader of the House Sam Rayburn.
had suggested that if the President did
not call off Republican gladiators who
promiscuously labeled Democrats dis
loyal. political sadists" and the like.
he need not expect Democratic votes
in Congress TO support his program.
The President has taken his stand in
favor of moderation and against ex-
IRENE and vicious partisan attacks on
the Democrats by Republican speakers.
1t remains now to see what the Demo-
Gratis do about his program. as well as
whether the Republican speakers will
take the Presidents advice.
There is an obvious danger that the
Democrats on Capitol Hill. while talk
ing of support for Eisenhower with
tongue in cheek, will talk SO long on
items Of the Presidents program. and
on amendments which they will them
selves suggest, that parts of the Presi-
dents program will never reach vote.
More than a suspicion exists that the
Democrats have no real wish to see
popular Eisenhower program of
legislation enacted into law at the
present session of Congress, and If they
can stall it of, so much the better for
ther own campaign tactics next fall.
No one will be more vociferous than
the Democrats when-if they can do
1t with reason-they begin calling the
$50, Republican-controlled Congress- a
'do-nothing Congress-" That was
former President Humans favorite
theme during the 1948 presidential
campaign, at the close of the Republic
can 80th Congress. The Democrats
tried similar arguments in the 1852
presidential campaign but were unsuc-
ceSSful. Now. however, if the Democrats
can stall legislation on extension of
social security. the Eisenhower health
program. the Taft-Hartley amend
mentS, public housing and other hui
manitarian parts of the program. thew
Will tell the voters their only hope for
social betterment is from the Demo-
cratic Party.
Decent Attitude.
The President has adopted-or more
explicitly has within himself-a decent
attitude toward his Democratic oppo-
nentS. This has been evidenced on nu-
merous occasions. It's good politics and
the American people will generally an
prove. 1hls does not mean that the
president is not, and will not be, critical
OF democrats, particularly Of the New
Deal. Soclallstic variety. The Democrats
mad only one remedy for economic ills.
winch was to spend more money and
oullo an ever bigger central Govern
ment. He believes that the Republican
Party is the best and most efficient in
strument through which the country
can be governed-and will stick to that.
Some Of the Republicans, especially
those IN the Presidents own official
family, in the executive branch gen.
orally. will take to heart the Presidents
admon1tion against extreme partisan
ship. They are not likely to make the
President hit them across the knuckles
again. But there seems little doubt that
other Republican orators, particularly
in Congress, will continue to badger the
Democrats and to accuse them of sins.
And the Democrats may be expected to
reply in kind. And If the Democrats
ever get around to personal attacks on
President Eisenhower himself. they NAV
expect reprisals. This coming campaign
is not likely to be a kid gloves affair
in any mans language.