Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-09-05
Eisenhower Leadership
Proves. His Strength
Writer Sees Critics Gibes
Answered by Achievements

Writer Sees Critics Gibes
Answered by Achievements
By Fronk R. Kent
The midterm congressional elections.
which mean so much to the Eisenhower
Administration, are just about two
months off, But, neither the Democrats
nor the Republicans are happy about
the outlook. Both profess confidence;
both know the results win have q con-
siderable effect upon the presidential
election of 1856. Yet. each party is
nervous.
Normally. the party out Of power
in this case the Democrats-has the
advantage In these off-year campaigns.
There Is natural swing back. Usually
the minority party gains few seats
in House and Senate. Under present
conditions few seats would make a
very great difference. The Republican
margin Of control Is so slender as to
be almost nonexistent. Loss of control
could easily be devastating to the
Administration program for the bal
ance Of the Eisenhower term. few
months ago this seemed almost inevi-
table. The betting odds still favor the
Democrats. Nonetheless, there has been
change.
A few months ago it seemed that the
President was definitely on the defen-
sive. The opposition shrieked with glee
at what they termed the Republican
mess" in Washington. Mr. Eisenhower
was denounced as lacking in leader
ship" and unable to hold his party
together. The Go and the Americans
for Democratic Action were bowling
about the Eisenhower depression" and
giving out alarming figures about the
increase in unemployment Some Of the
Generals strong newspaper supporters
took fright and excitedly called on
him to get going" Many of them
assumed that his comprehensive pro-
gram was doomed to disaster. He was
pictured by his opponents as bewil-
dered. confused and dismayed. There
was. in fact, little left unSaid about
him, though no one except the Demo-
cratic Committee chairman went so
far as to reflect upon his personal
character.
The change came when 1t was real
lied that Mr.. Eisenhower was going to
get through, despite q wholly unde-
pendable party majority. q very large
part Of one Of the most massive pro-
grams ever submitted by any President
to Congress. Since the session ended.
with-considering the circumstances
an almost unprecedented success on
the part Of General Ike. the talk about
lack of leadership" has completely
dried up. Nor are there any more
descriptions of him as "bewildered,
confused and dismayed." In light of
what he has achieved those allegations
seem too silly to repeat
There are-and will be-plenty Of
charges and smears between now and
November. These are natural and to
be expected. But. those which were so
copiously and conspicuously promul-
gated last spring are no longer in
vogue. They are old stuff, out-of date
stuff disproved stuff. The last spring
vendors Of the depression and unem-
ployment TRADES are anxious to forget
them now. So are those who regarded
Gen. Ike as weak and misguided
man who knew nothing about politics.
They are now prepared to belabor him
on his flexible farm law, his tax law
and a variety Of other matters, but that
business about his not knowing what
his job is really about has now been
ditched. Nobody sings that song any
more.
In other words, what looked to the
Democrats in May as pushover for
November. does not look that way at
all. They still think they will win and
perhaps they are right. However, they
are now faced with the necessity Of
reconstructing their earlier anti-Eisen-
hover propaganda. discarding their
President should be denied q Congress
in tune with his program and con-
structing totally new form Of dis
paragement. The Democrats are skill
full at this game. However, 1t is reason
able to believe that since their first
Eisenhower blasts and forecasts
turned out to be so far off the mark
their secondary attack is sure to be
diminished in force and effectiveness.
One thing-which the Democrats
seem determined to promote is this
the Republicans are badly split by
Senator Mccarthy. In many ways the
President has shown his disapproval
and distaste for Senator Mccarthy.
Senator Mccarthy concededly has O
big following. In view Of this, they
argue. how can it be expected the Nc
earthly following will vote for an Eisen-
hover Congress in November? The
Mccarthy wing" of the party is not
for Eisenhower. Eisenhower Republic
cans are not for Mccarthy. True
enough. but the realists in politics ask:
well, if the Mccarthy following does
not vote for Republicans in the fall,
for whom will they vote?" II Senator
Mccarthy is to hold on to his big COM
mittee Craftsmanship he needs a Re-
publican Congress just as much as the
President. They both have big stake
in a continuation Of Republican con-
troll. And, again ask the realists, where
have the McCarthyites to 60 except
Republican? To the CIO. Americans
for Democratic Action Democrats?
Don't" they say, "be ridiculous"
ing himself to bar In his cell. He had
refused rotlrishment for several DAVIS I"