Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-09-04
The Political Mill =
6. o. P. Seen Holding
All Campaign issues
Even the Red Question Finds
Republicans in Advantage
By Gould Lincoln


Republicans in Advantage
By Gould Lincoln
AS the congressional campaign warns
up, the Democrats are lacking any
major, popular issue on which to take
the offensive against the Eisenhower
administration and the Republican
Party. For the best part of 20 years
they won elections on the depression
issue-the depression which hit the
country during the Hoover administra-
tion-and on Government subsidies to
the farmers, to millions Of individual
citizens. and to many businesses which
obtained Government contracts.
Much as some Democrats and their
allies, the CLIO, have preached the COM
ing OF depression, economic condi-
tions have taken an upward swing.
The Republicans have been in power 20
monthS-and no depression or even
serious recession has overtaken the
country. The voters were warned in
the Government, the American people
would be selling apples on the street
corners to keep alive. Apple sellers
have not been visible.
The Democrats can point to no
scandals in the Republican administra-
tion-although Democratic National
Chairman Mitchell sought to give
an impression that Gen. Eisenhower
and his friend. Bobby Jones of golf
fame, were guilty of some kind of skull
duggery in connection with q Govern
ment contract to build steam power
plant in West Memphis, Ark. The sug-
gestion boomeranged. The people were
not willing to believe that either the
President or Mr.. Jones were guilty Of
wrongdoing.
Republican Issue.
There is one prominent and popular
issue-the Red issue-but the Demo-
Gratis cannot claim it. That issue was
pre- empted by the Republicans, and
used by them effectively during the
last two congressional elections. It may
be again.
the Republican administration and
Congress the "give-away" regime
giving away the resources Of the coun-
try to private industry-because Gen.
Eisenhower and the Republicans have
called halt on putting the Govern
ment further and further into business.
The Republicans, under Eisenhower
leadership. have chosen to have private
industry and State and local govern
ment take over operations which the
New Deal-Fair Deal Democrats have
insisted the Federal Government should
handle. There seems little probability
this issue will have much appeal to
millions Of voters who have been fed up.
more and more, in recent years with
being told what they can and cannot
do by the ever-growing Government
agencies.
The Democrats cannot charge the
Republicans with increasing taxes or
spending too much of the peoples
money. On the contrary the taxes
have been reduced by some 81 billion,
a tremendous feat when compared to
the record of the Democratic admins
trations. Also, the Republicans have cut
Government spending by some $40 bill
lion. So Democratic speakers are crying
that the Republicans haven't cut taxes
enough and haven't balanced the
budget. When the financial state of the
Government, at the time the Eisen-
hover administration took Office, is con-
sidered. the accomplishments Of the Re-
publicans in the line of economy and
tax reduction deserve high praise. The
voters who are paying less taxes are
inclined to think so. too.
The Democrats would like to convince
the voters that social gains" of the
last 20 years are doomed under Re-
publican rule. But that, too, would
not carry water as an issue In this
campaign. Social gains have increased
IN the last year. not decreased.
Peace Obtained.
Nor can the Democrats successfully
charge that the Republicans under Gen.
Eisenhower have not struggled hard
for a peaceful world-and obtained
peace for the United States. They snipe
at the foreign policy of the Eisenhower
administration. In some cases they go
so far as to criticize the admins
tration for not getting into the war in
Indo-C China. It does not appear that
kind of criticism will get them many
votes, however. The American people
were glad enough to have the fighting
in Korea, which began during the DEM
ocratic administration. ended under
the leadership of Gen. Eisenhower.
The legislative record made by the
SD Congress so far surpassed the
gloomy prophesies of the Democrats
that all talk of it as "do-nothiing
Congress" has vanished into thin air.
The charge by Democrats that Gen.
Eisenhower and the Republicans have
not put into effect all the promises
made in 1852 is not effective in the
light of the great improvements already
made.
The Republicans, on the other hand.
can and will attack the Democrats. be-.
cause of the continuing revelations Of
scandals under Democratic rule. They
can and will attack the Democrats as
spendthrifts and MASTERS of the taxpay-
ers' money. They can and will attack
the Democrats because of mistakes in
foreign policy which helped to build
the Communist power to its present
world-menace stature. They can and
will attack the Democrats for subsidy
policies which made possible huge ag-
ricultural surpluses, q constant threat
to the farmers.
And finally, the Republicans can 60
to the country on the ground that
the first two years of Gen. Eisenhower,
and Republican rule warrant giving
the President a Republican Congress
to complete the campaign promises Of
1852. With Gen. Eisenhower himself
making an aggressive campaign. as
now is planned, the offensive will be
with the Republicans, unless they muff
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