Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-30
The Political Mill
Eisenhower Is Givinq
His Purtyo New Look
Drive for Getting Something
Done Moves With Momentum
By Gould Lincoln


BY Gould Lincoln
President Eisenhower is giving the
Republican Party new look" He has
produced a program in the interest of
the people. Members of Congress are
hearing from back home that the
people like both the program and the
President-the latter, they say, because
OF his strong, sincere and kindly per-
Sonality.
The Republican Party, which won its
first victories under the leadership of
Abraham Lincoln, was conceived in the
belief in individual liberty, the better
ment Of the people and adherence to
the Union and the Constitution It was
the liberal party of the day.
At his most recent press conference,
President Eisenhower in simple, under
standable language, gave his own de-
scription of his administration and the
program for which he is now fighting.
Recognizing that the terms liberal"
and conservative" have been widely
and differently construed, hA never
theleSS asserted that his administra-
ton was liberal" when dealing with
people-human beings-and conserva-
tive when dealing with communicative
finances of the Nation and of the Gov
eminent. 1t is the first half of this
comment which is particularly signifi-
cant. For Mr. Eisenhower truly believes
in liberal government which seeks the
interests of the individual citizen In
the matter of finances, the Republican
leaders have been preaching caution
and sound money for many years.
A Boring Old Litany.
For score of years, under Presidents
Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S.
Truman. the Republican Party was
held up to ridicule, denounced and
excoriated as the party of the big
interests. Republicans were dedicated,
in the language of Mr.. Roosevelt, to
placing property interests above human
interests. Mr.. Roosevelt said it so
often and so loudly that he was able
to get himself elected to the presidency
four times. Mr.. Truman continued the
chorus.
President Eisenhower now is giving
the G. o. P. different look And more
and more on Capitol Hill, Republican
legislators are gathering the signifi-
canoe and are rallying to his support.
There are intra-party clashes, as for
example the row over the Bricker
proposal for amending the Constitu-
ton to limit the President in handling
treaties and executive agreements with
foreign nations. But it is apparent from
the comments of many Senators and
Representatives that Eisenhower's hold
as leader of the party is gaining, Just
as his hold as leader is gaining the
country over. With a congressional
election coming up, there is a growing
regret that the President is not heading
the ticket as he did in 1882 The huge
vote. cast for the Republican presiden-
tial candidate that year, had its affect
on the elections for Congress in many
districts and States, even though the
@. Q. P. won control of the House end
Senate by the narrowest of margins.
Some Opponents Still.
There is die-hard minority among
the Republicans of the House and SEN
ate who still are inclined to buck the
Eisenhower leadership. But it is dimin-
1Shlng. In the first place, all the
Republican leaders and committee
chairmen Of Congress were invited bv
the President to take part in drafting
and evaluating the important program
OF legislation which has been presented.
In addition, the President has, at one
time or another, had all the Republican
members of Congress at the White
House, and he is personally popular
with them. Even in these early days OF
the present session of Congress, the
drive for getting something done has
achieved real momentum.
1t is exemplified particularly In the
Senate. where already important pieces
of legislation have been tackled and
passed. among them the controversial
st. Lawrence seaway bill, which had
been knocking at the doors of Congress
for score of years In the House. the
appropriation bills are in the process of
investigation and drafting. An i'm
portant tax revision bill is being
whipped into shape, and the many fea-
lures of the Presidents program are
being handled by committees prepara-
tory to reports to both houses.
From Democratic sources come criti-
clsms that President Eisenhower's lib
eral policies are inadequate-and where
criticism is tempered with approval.
Democrats are saying that the Eisen-
hover program is continuation of the
New Deal-Fair Deal The President.
however, has pointed out the fallacy of
this latter statement. The philosophy
of the Eisenhower administration and
the Presidents program is unlike the
super-governmental socialistic pro-
grams of his predecessors.