Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-12-08
President Rejects
3d-Pariy Role for
Progressive Voters
Believes 6. o. P. Should
Accept Thot Label;
No Comment on Sc
Bv Gould Lincoln
By Gould Lincoln

President Eisenhower today
turned his back on suggestion
that a third party should be
organized, composed of progress
sive-moderates" with his own
philosophy of government and
drawn from both the Republican
and Democratic Parties.
He told his news conference
he believed the Republican
Party should accept the progress
sive-moderate label, with the
strong inference it should cam
paign for 1t.
He said. too, he believed the
mass of American people wanted
that kind of government. The
White House later authorized
direct quotation of the phrase,
progressive moderates, used by
the President. .-
The President left up in the
air the question whether he
would be q candidate to succeed
himself.
In answer to a question
whether, If he should decide not
to run in 1856, he would support
a candidate for the Republican
nomination who stood for the
progressive-modera kind of
government the President has
himself advocated, the President
replied he would strongly sup
port such a candidate.
Comment on Butler.
Gen. Eisenhower was asked to
comment on the attack made
upon him by Paul M. Butler, the
new Democratic national chair
man, who claimed that the
President lacked capacity for
government and that under his
leadership the government had
failed.
The President replied that,
while he did not comment on
the statements of individuals,
there are politicians who look
into a mirror and not through
a window. They see. he said,
what they want to see, and not
what is really there.
AS to his own abilities, the
President commented that he
believed the members of the
press who attend his press con-
ferences week after week are
better to Judge of him and his
qualities than is some political
leader. He said he would leave
to them the answer to that ques-
ton.
Cites Difficulties.
Discussing the suggestion that
a third party of progressive
moderates be formed, the Presi-
dent pointed out the great diff
ficulties that faced the establish
ment of a third party, with a
number of the States having
laws on their books which vir-
tually excluded the formation of
a new and effective third party
as a practical proposition.
He was asked If he thought
the threatened split in the Re-
publican Party because of Sena-
tor McCarthy's attack on him.
self would increase the difficult
ties of a Republican victory
when the next election rolls
around. He answered he did
not possess a crystal ball. He
did say, however, that any
groups that wanted to do so
would split off from the party.
Whether they would be suf-
ficient to bring about defeat Of
the G. o. P. he had no guess
or prediction.
The President said, however,
that he had always tried to
stand for something positive and
progressive, particularly with re-
gard to The security of the coun-
try and for its sound economy
It was here he follwed with a
comment he believed the mass
of the people wanted the Gov
eminent handled by progressive
moderateS.
He was asked, too, if he would
be more likely to run two years
hence because of Senator Nc
Carthy's statement and effort to
split. the Republicans. The
President made no direct answer
to this. He did say. however,
that he would take some time
with the press for a half hour
on such o subject.