Evening star., 1954-10-04
Gloomy Vote Report
May Lead President
To Do More Stumping
By q stor S.off Correspondent

To Do More Stumping
BY stor ssaft Correspondent
DENVER, Oct. president
Eisenhower today had from one
of his most trusted advisers a
rather gloomy report on Repub-
lican prospects in next months
congressional elections which
may lead him to step UP his own
activities in behalf Of G. o. P.
candidates.
The report came from Repre-
sentative Halleck, Republican. of
Indiana. who told reporters after
a luncheon conference with the
President yesterday that he be-
lieves the Republicans will
about hold our own" in the cam
paign for House seats to be
decided four weeks from to-
morrow.
Mr.. Halleck, who was House
majority leader in the 83d Con-
gress, said Il think I will still be
majority leader" next year, al
though "it is rough fight"
BIames Mccarthy Indirectly.
Indirectly, he blamed Senator
McCarthy-without mentioning
the Wisconsin Republican Sena-
tors name himself for
making the fight tougher than
it should be.
The -Halleck hold our own"
prediction, which would give the
G. o. P. bare majority of two
or three in the House, sounded
gloomy in comparison to recent
statements by Leonard w. Hall,
Republican National Committee
chairman, that he looked for a
G. o. P. gain of IS to Is House
seats.
Asked about the Hall forecast,
Mr.. Halleck said that is more
than would predict"
The House leader said there
should not be any question"
about election of Republican
majorities to the House and Sen
ate next month, in view of the
Els IN h wer administrations
good for the country program.
The difficulty is, he said, that
1--WE haven't been able to get
across to the people just how
good that program is"
Mr.. Halleck recalled especially
the Presidents signing Of a law
providing that all Federal gas
oline taxes go into highway
funds, which he described as
important for the country"
but which he said was "blanked
off" the front pages by Mccarthy
news.
He suggested. however, that
maybe" there will be change
during the next four weeks that
will bring. greater public under
standing of how good" the adj
ministration program is and why
it is desirable" to elect a Re-
publican-led Congress to carry
it on.
Mr.. Halleck indicated he ex-
pected Gen. Eisenhower to play
a big part in promoting such un-
derstanding, but refused to say
specifically whether he had
urged the President to make
more political speeches than he
has planned so far.
Eisenhower strongest Voice"
He described Gen. Eisenhower
as probably the strongest voice
in this whole campaign" because
"the people have confidence in
him and will listen to him." He
added that the more the Presi-
dent lets it be understood that
he thinks a Republican Congress
would be best for the country the
better off we will be.
Mr.. Halleck asserted belief that
mo one wants a stalemated gov
eminent for the next two years"
which he said would result from
Democratic control of the next
Congress.
Mr.. Halleck said he would like
to see more speeches by Gen.
Eisenhower like he made in the
Hollywood Bowl September %.
when he called for election of a
Republican led Congress to
avoid "stagnation and inaction"
in Washington.
Speaks Here Friday Night.
Such a hard-hitting political
speech is promised by the Presi-
dents aides when he and Vice
President Nixon speak before a
G.. o. P. rally here next Friday
night on a nationally televised
program climaxing Republican
Precinct Day"
But the President has no more
political speeches scheduled be-
fore election eve, when he will
make another televised talk ap-
pealing for all qualified voters
to cast their ballots as we'll as
for election of Republicans.