Evening star., 1954-10-31
The UnpredictobIe Voter

A1peIl 6dTkley IeIlS a SGOEy OF a pOllLlCdl
candidate who was shocked to learn that
man in his district was going to vote
against him. The candidate had gotten an
appointment to Annapolis for the mans
son, he had secured free fertilizer for the
farm, he had arranged to get mother-in-
law on relief and he had found job for
daughter in the Post Office. 1--WE done all
of this" moaned the candidate, "and you're
not going to vote for me?" "I know" replied
the voter, "but what have you done for me
lately?"
This anecdote does not quite At the
case Of Dwight D. Eisenhower. But it is not
too far of. Two years ago almost "a million
voters marched to the polls to mark their
ballots for General Eisenhower. This was
by far the largest vote ever cast for Presi-
dent, and some 6.5 million more votes than
were recorded for Adlai Stevenson.
What were these people voting for?
Perhaps, on this point, there is room for
argument. It may be that many were voting,
not for something, but against the Demo-
Gratis. The fact remains however, that Gen.
eral Eisenhower was campaigning on plat
form which, at least in broad terms, offered
the voters choice of somewhat different
kind of governmental philosophy. And the
voters seemed to like what was offered.
Two years have passed, and this pro-
gram, although it really has had but one
year in the legislative mill, has taken rather
definite form. The second session of the
Republican 83d Congress, constantly prod
ded by the President, achieved tax reduction
and tax reform. Appropriations for defense
and foreign aid were materially reduced.
According to the President, Federal expend-
itures were cut some $12.3 billion from the
January, 1858, Truman estimates farm
bill has been passed which breaks away from
the old concept of price supports fixed at
80 per cent of parity. The Communist Party
has been outlawed, social security has been
liberalized, and unemployment insurance
coverage was expanded. On the interna-
tional scene the guns have been stllled,
defense pact of sorts was worked out for
Southeast: Asia, and in Europe minor
miracle was passed to prepare the way for
bringing Germany-and German troops
back into the fold Of the Western alliance.
One might think that this record ap-
praised against the background of the 1852
presidential vote, would insure an expression
of voter confidence in the Republicans for
at least another two years. But unless the
experts are sadly mistaken, all signs point
the other way. The verdict of the prognosti-
Gators (of course, they have been wrong be-
fore) Is to the effect that the voters, or
those who take the trouble to vote, are
going to return Democratic Congress.
1t is true, of course, Chat the division in
the 1858 popular vote for congressional can
didates was much closer than in the presi-
Dental vote. The Republican majority in
Congress for the past two years has been
hairline affair, and it is customary for the
party in power to lose substantial number
of seats, especially House seats, in an Off
year election.
Still, it seems to The Star that it will be
an unfortunate thing if the Republicans
lose control Of Congress. The President has
initiated significant and far-reaching
change in the philosophy of government
which had prevailed in this country for 20
years. The program which he has launched
is just beginning to go into effect. It's i'm
pact for good or bad, has not yet been felt.
It will be regrettable If it is not given a
fair trial by that unpredictable critic-the
American voter.