Evening star., 1954-09-17
Truman Asks Voters
10 Elect Democrats
10 Help Eisenhower
BY The Assoeioied Press

fCUFIleT FT6SlQenC truman CdlleQ
today for the election of a
Democratic Congress to help
President Eisenhower ego down
in history as a successful Presi-
dent who helped to save the free
world 90 -
Mr.. Truman said in a letter
to Democratic National Chair
man Stephen A. Mitchell that
"it seems to me that President
Eisenhower should be secretly
wishing for a Democratic Con-
gress" because "he is pledged
to a foreign policy of co-opera-
tion with other free nations but
a majority Of his party leaders
are against it."
Mr.. Mitchell made public the
letter in advance of a closed
session of the Democratic Ma
tional Committee here to map
campaign strategy in the battle
with the Republicans for con-
troll of Congress.
Agrees On Basic Issue =
Supporting the contention of
Mr.. Mitchell and other Demo-
cratic leaders that the econom-
ic situation will be a major
issue in the campaign, Mr.. Tru-
man said he thinks the election
of a Democratic Congress will
restore confidence in our eco
/ nomic expansion, shore up the
declining earnings of our workers
and protect the hard-won rights
of the working man from
the whiting away process that
Is now going on"
Mr.. Truman recalled that he
once had tabled the Republican
s0th Congress as the second
worst" in history.
But it has been surpassed
In the wrong direction-by the
Republican 83rd," he declared.
THE 80th Congress was a do
nothing Congress-; the 83rd 'do
wrong, give away Congress"
Won't Join Campaign.
Mr.. Truman said he would be
unable to campaign this year
because of doctors orders. He is
expected to make one speech,
however, and Mr.. Mitchell said
daughter Margaret Truman will
pinch-hit for her father in some
instances.
National Chairman Stephen A.
Mitchell said before a closed
meeting of the party's National
Committee that he thinks the
country's economic situation is
"the basic issue" on which the
voters will decide between Re-
publicans and Democrats.
Similarly, Paul Butler, Indiana
State Democratic committeeman,
who said he is available" for Mr..
Mitchell's job when the latter
steps down after the election,
said that security for the wage
Garner and the farmer" is the
main question on which he
thinks the voters will decide
that they want a Democratic
Congress-. =.
Illinois Trend, Spotted.
James Roman, Illinois State
chairman, professed to see "a
definite trend cooking" in his
State for the Delnocrats. He
said this was based on what he
said was dissatisfaction among
the farmers over the Eisenhower
administrations flexible farm
price support program and un-
employment in the coal mining
and farm implement industries.
AS they rallied here for a CAM
paign kickoff meeting, to be key
noted by former Gov. Adlai E.
Stevenson of Illinois, Democrats
displayed optimism over their
chances Of capturing both the
Senate and House in November.
Mr.. Stevenson will speak to-
morrow night at a $100-a-plate
Embarrassing dinner at which Mr..
Mitchell expects to read a mes
sage from fromer President Tru-
man.
Mr.. Mitchell, who has said he
will quit as national chairman
after the November 2 election,
said he thinks the Democrats
will gain 40 seats in the House,
where there now are 218 Re-
publlcans. 213 Democrats, one
independent and three vacancies.
Close Senate Fight Seen.
But the national chairman
said that, as of now, the battle
for control of the Senate "looks
awfully close and has not been
settled yet I'm the Senate there
are 48 Republicans, At Demo-
Gratis and one Independent.
The Democratic leaders, in
eluding Mr.. Mitchell, were buoyed
up in their hopes by the victory
of Democrat in the Governors
race in Maine and the showing
of their defeated congressional
candidates in that State. Ed
mund S. Muskie, who was elected
Names Governor, has been pro-
NOTED to a speaking spot in to-
morrow nights dinner, along
with Mr.. Stevenson and House
Minority Leader Sam Rayburn,
Democrat, of Texas.
Mr.. Butler said that as he in
terprets the Maine results, the
Democrats might pick up a net
of so house seats. He said he
thinks Indiana Democrats will
start the ball rolling by taking
four House places away from the
Republicans, who now hold a
10-1 edge in this State.
Douglas Victory Forecast.
Mr.. Roman predicted Demo-
cratic gain of at least four House
seats in critical Illinois and OBJ
served that he thinks Senator
Douglas, Democrat, running for
reelection, will defeat his Re-