Milford chronicle., 1955-12-30
EISENHOWER WILL BE A POPULAR
CANDIDATE


AS general principle, practically every
one agrees, that there is no such thing as al
indispensable man. AS a practical matter
however, any COP political strategist, in q
frank mood, would tell you that there IS one
man who comes mighty close to being indis-
pensable and his name is Dwight D. Eisen-
hover.
All kinds Of polls and surveys and stu
dies have been made In preparation for the
crucial 1856 general election. Most. 6 not
all, have come to the same conclusions. One
conclusion is that President Eisenhower, the
individual, is far more popular than the Re-
publican Party, the institution. Another is
that as Of now at any rate, he could defeat
any potential Democrat candidate in pretty
much of a walk A third is that no other
Republican in the public eye has anything
resembling the Presidents popular standing
1t IS not an eXaggeratiOn to say that MANY
OF the most experienced political observers
are convinced that without Eisenhower there
will be Democratic sweep next year-While
with Eisenhower, the Republicans will GER
tainly keep the Presidency and very possibly
regain control Of Congress.
The opinion is general that, even though
II may ego against his personal desires, the
President will run. The Democratic leader
ship believes that. It's present strategy.
therefore, is inevitably devoted to seeking
issues that are not only anti-Republican, but
which will undermine the Presidents per-
sOnal popularity and weaken public conf
dence in his policies and his abilities.
That has proven a 9orm1oable task. There
rs no rear issue over foreign pOlicy-both the
Republican and Democratic leadership agree
on the fundamentals. The Eisenhower De-
preston issue of a year or so ago has dis
appeared without trace-production en-
ployment, wage levels and other standard
business indicators are at or near record
highs. Ernest effort is being given to dram
atlzing and selling the idea that this is BIG
business administration, bent on giving away
priceless natural resources, such as oil and
water power, to greedy interests But no
dlspasSiOnate observer can see where this
has made any real headway or is likely to.
And the attempt to turn Dixon Y ates into
another Teapot Dome died aborning--the
facts simply did not substantiate the charges
There also have been more subtle efforts
to change public opinion. The Democratic
Digest has drawn fanciful parallel between
the Grant and Eisenhower Administrations
even bringing in Grants devotion To fast
horses and EisenhOwer's to golf This caus-
ed Fortune to say editorially, eff that is the
best the Democratic high command can mus
ter, Mr.. Eisenhower can afford to spend a
lot OF time at golf and fishing -
The Democrats are not to be criticized
for their zealOusness. 1t is their duty as
Well as their right to search for effective |
issues. The Republicans have found them
selves in a similar position in past times and
have necessarilyfOllowed similar tactics. But.
to date, it is clear that no effective counter
to the Eisenhower prestige has been found. /
Columnist Frank Kent described the situa- !
ton accurately when he told of discour- /
aged Democrat saying: ''What we need is /
some kind Of smear that will stick But the |
damned fellow seems smear-prOOf"
ReEaRNE