The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1955-04-28

Dulles are equipped. he none the
less undertook to assail our foreign
policy in the Far East. His sugges-
tions were not original: his criti-
cisms had all been made before He
offered the rather despicablc state
ment that the Administration for
eign policy seemed more based on
domestic politics than on realities
This is on the same level as Mr.
Stevenson's friend. eX-Chairman
Stephen Mitchell, occupied when
some months ago he charged that
the Presidents advocacy Of the
DiXon-Yates contract was prompted
by his friendship for Bobby Jones,
who has small stockholders in
terest.
However, Mr.. Mitchell hastily
withdrew from that charge and I'M
til Mr. Stevenson's speech the other
night no one had suggested that
either the President or his Sccre-
tary of State were playing domestic
politics in handling our foreign af-
fairs. Now that that allegation has
been made no one believes it.
Nevertheless. il does appear to
give some basis to the charge that
Mr.. StevenSons latest Grafton was
at bottom a campaign speech with
no trace of bipartisanship or mag
nanimity-two virtues which his
friends have claimed for him.
The truth is that, regardless of
his gestures to the contrary Mr.
Stevenson at the moment is an
eager and active aspirant for the
presidency. This is natural enough
and not to be criticized. 1t is exact
ly what he was in those 1852 pre-
convention days. when his cOyness
only served TO convince those who
knew the facts that the notion he
had to be drafted was joke. 1t
may be that next year, if the Essen
hover strength remains unim-
paired. MIR. Stevenson will really
eliminate himself For his friends
say he has no taste for second de-
feat However. should he run, in
view of his hookup with the worst
elements in Chicago politics, his
labor-leader alliances. his partisan
speeches and extremely practical
political friends. it is difficult to
see how he can again pose as a
noble young man, outstandingly
idealistic and high-minded. His re
cent speech was a clear attempt to
regain that position But, well as
he talked il checked considerably
short
To be sure, he was less violently
partisan than eX-President Truman.
who spoke at the Democratic din
ner here a week ago. Mr. Truman
is the most conspicuous Democrat
now pledged to Mr. Stevenson.
However ne did not do his candi-
date much good by that speech. In
bitterness and bad taste the eX-
President seems to lead all his
party colleagues To some extent
his VituperatiVe style is followed
by the new propaganda of the
Democratic National Committee,
but a good many Of the more re
spectacle Democratic leaders de
plore his cheap and immOderate
attacks. These feel there is no pO-
Iitical percentage in accusing Mr..
Eisenhower of doing or being
things that he obviously isn't.
The truth is that up to now the
Democrats have not been able to
develop a single issue that seems
sound or upon which they can
stand. The 1856 election is still
seventeen months off The Presi-
dent may make some bad mistakes
and have some really bad luck. No
one can tell about that. Many
things may happen and political
prophecy is a dangerous business.
But at the moment he is certainly
the strongest man in the country
and extremely few political judges