The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1955-12-01
THE GREAT
GAME OF
POLITICS
By FRANK R. KENT
ecDyriaht By The Baltimore Sun and 70
VFfne-d IN TIE Republican by permission.
The Democratic Cleavage

really serious split in the Demo
cratic party will be healed and the
current cmbarrassments of MIR. Adj
lai Stevenson will have disap-
pearcd. But at the moment it
seems better than an even bet that
the breach will have widened and
the bitterness increased.
Tradilionally after having made
a good fight" in 1852. Mr. Steven
son the titular leader of his party
and candidate for denomination.
As was Ex-Governor Dewey in the
Republican Convention of 1913 and
as was the late William Jennings
Bryan in the Democratic conven-
lions of 1900 and 1908. should have
had as did they, a united party
back of him and at least superficial
harmony on the issues But it is
perfectly clear shat at this time he
has neither The reasons are not in
the least obscure.
One, of course, is the change in
the political climate caused by Mr..
Eisenhower's heart attack Up to
that moment the odds were heavy
that Mr. Eisenhower would be
nominated and reelected. When he
was stricken the whole Democratic
prospect frightened. The feeling
among party politicians that Mr..
Stevenson was entitled to renomi-
nation greatly diminished. Mr.. Ste
venson'S ardent wish to get the
nomination without being COM
PEELED to enter the primaries and
without convention opposition was
rendered futile Not only have rival
and really formidable candidates
appeared. such as Governor Harri-
man and Senator Kefauver. but
his speeches and statements have
aroused criticism from his sup
posed friends" in his own party
fully as pronounced as any that has
come from the Republican side.
For example, Governor Hartman
has sharply assailed Mr.. Steven
sons expressed conviction that
moderation" and middle of the
roadiSm' should be fundamental in
Democratic policies, both foreign
and domestic.
Just who induced Mr. Stevenson
to use these words is not clear.
They do not in the least sound like
his two cronies Mr.. Stephen Mitch
ell and Mr. Paul Butler. They
sound much more like Mr.. Thomas
Finletter, formerly Secretary of
Air under Mr.. Truman and man
of real ability and character But
whoever wrote that moderate and
''middle-of-thc-r 0 dis m" speech
could not have foreseen its effect.
So far as the Republicans were con-
cerned it was not hostilely viewed
because this is The basic and often
expressed view Of General Essen
hower-the two things in which he
very deeply believes.
The first strong dissent came
from Governor Hartman. who de-
clared that those words moder-
alton" and middle Of the roadism"
had no place in the Democratic
creed. They belonged to the Re
publicans and should be left to
them Spokesman for both eX-
President Truman and Senator
Kefauver echoed the Hartman
views, made it plain that Mr. Ste
Venson had struck very sour
note, indeed. Friends of Mr. Ste
venSon at once rushed to his de-
Tense, declared that all he had done
was express what he personally be-
lieved. He was, they said, simply
trying to take the advice of those
who had been counseling him to
be his own intelligent SELF and
not descend to demagoguery in
discussing issues. It is. they say,
very discouraging that when he
does that he should find himself
criticized not only by men within
his own party but by the very
people who urge him to be him
self.
What is even more diSheartening
is the fact that, being the first
aVoWed candidate for the nomina-
ton. he is compelled to take a
stand on every issue and answer
every charge. Ii he continues to
be his own intellectual sell" on
every issue in sight, he is going to
get into trouble with the various
groups to which his party IS now
attached and to whose special i'll
terests he is himself committed
since 1852 Chief among these are
the bosses of organized labor and
the discontinued farm leaders. Al
ready these have echoed the Har-
riman-Truman-Kefauver resentment
of Mr. Stevensons moderation
and "middle-of-the-roadism' re-
marks. The feeling here is that Mr.
Stevenson, DESPITE the idealistic
pictures which some of his warm