Evening star., 1954-10-26
The Political Min
Voter Apathy Reports
Muy Prove to Be False
Most Cumpoigns Based on
Locol Personalities, Issues
The Political Min
By Gould Lincoln

locui Personalities, Issues
By Gould Lincoln
WILMINGTON. Del, Oct. 26.-This
is the week elections are frequently
won or lost-not so much because peo-
pie make up their minds for whom they
win vote but because they decide
whether to vote. This year the con-
gressional elections are likely to turn
on how many go to the polls next
Tuesday.
It used to be argued that big vote
meant Democratic victory. But when
the late Senator Bob Taft of Ohio won
great victory in 1950-with lead
Of 100000 votes over his Democratic
opponent. despite the frantic efforts
of the labor leaders to defeat him-and
Gen. Eisenhower Swamped Adlai Ste
venson with the biggest turnout of vot-
erS in the history of the country, this
myth was exploded. Republicans, OBJ
viouSly. can win with big vote out
as well as can Democrats.
And just as obviously, If the swarm
Of voters who supported Gen. Eisen-
hover two years ago should go to the
polls this time and vote to give the
President the Republican Congress for
which he has asked, it would happen
again that all the polls and reports of
political scouts-which have In recent
weeks predicted Democratic victory
would vanish into thin air.
1t Could Happen.
And the funny thing about it is
that it could happen. The Democrats
have made wide claims of victory for
weeks and months, and the results of
the Maine election in November-al-
though the Republicans elected all their
candidates for House and Senate there
and the more recent results in the
Alaska election have given added i'm
petus to these forecasts
It has been in the air that the Demo-
Gratis are winning, and nearly every
one has been telling every one else the
Republicans are in for drubbing. This
repetition has added to the strength
of the rumor-until even Republicans
are saying the jig is up. But no one
will know for sure until the votes are
counted next Tuesday night.
This particular congressional election
Is rated as important. It's important
for the American people first of all,
and for the Republican and Demo-
cratic Parties second. Until recently.
however, the people seem to have paid
little attention.
They have seemed to be more in
terested In the World Series, murder
trials and the loves and divorces of
movie stars. Too many persons, too,
seem to have very little interest in the
men and women who are elected to
make the laws-a matter which should
be of vital interest. The Democrats
have fostered the idea that, so far as
the Eisenhower program is concerned
the country would be better off with
Democrats in Congress. It's q nice
idea If they can put it across.
With Democrats heading the COM
mittees of House and Senate and
holding majority in the new Con-
gress, the Eisenhower program would
have rough shedding. This program anc
the kind of administration of the peo.
pies money and of the laws which the
Eisenhower administration has given
should be the real issues. The Demo-
Gratis nave come up with nothing to
offer in substitution except their usual
plans for spending more money and
controlling to greater degree the
lives of individuals.
Local Issues.
In many of the States and districts
the races for Congress are being fought
out not on national lines or issues, but
on personalities and local issues. Gen
Eisenhower is doing his best to get
across to the people the need of voting
on the issues and there are some evil
dences he is making an impression
The Democrats are out Of Office. They
want to get back in, and to accomplish
this end they are urging the farmers
and the industrial workers to vote their
pocketbooks-that farm prices are low
and employment Is down and the OLD
overtime pay of war days has vanished
They are trying their best to get the
people to forget that higher prices and
more wages and great employment
came in Democratic administrations
only as result of war and Government
spending. The last has saddled the
people with an astronomical debt and
all-time high taxes.
The job of both parties from now
until-and on-election day is to gel
the people to vote. The strength o1
organization in many States and dis.
tricts is likely to determine results. and
each side has done its best to build ur
the party organizations. The Demo.
Gratis have working with them the labor
leaders and their organizations. The
Republicans have working with then
the Citizens for Eisenhower Congress!
Committees-and in some areas thes'
last have been effective. Perhaps thu
much-heralded apathy will turn out tt
be a myth, too.
Questions and Answers