Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-09-28
TEN YEARS OF ADENAUER
"A Firm Hand Upho|ds Democracy

Withal. his political acumen
rarely waivers
He is the most successful vote
getter in German history and
prides himself on the fact that
he won more votes in the totally
free election Of 1857 than Hitler
managed in the rugged elections
Of 1898.
Similarity to Trumon
On the political stump he is a
portrait Of serene confidence.
There is a striking similarity be-
tween his manner and that OF
Harry Truman, famed for his
give 'em-hell" speeches. Ade-
nauer gives EN- hell. too.
He is more effective than many
polished public speakers. His sem
fences are short and crisp in con-
trast to the traditional involved
and bulky German sentences. And
his swift smile and wagging finger
drew cheer after cheer from
packed houses.
It is widely known that Mr.. Ade-
nauer is-like most Catholicism
uncompromiSing foe Of commu-
nism and Marxist materialism. 1t
is equally well known that he is a
stalwart defender OF European
unity and of the United States as
leader of the West.
Not so we'll known. however, Is
the fact that he has one OF the best
wine cellars in the wine-loving
Rhineland. He nips away regularly
at the fine German white wines
but finds time as well for French
red wines and champagnes.
Doesn't Drink or Smoke
He doesn't drink hard liquor,
though, and he doesn't smoke.
Chancellor Adenauer had plenty
of time to acquire hobbies during
his "retirement" under the Nazi
regime. He took no part in resist
ance movements but twice was ar"
rested by the Gestapo. He and his
second wife spent their silver we'd
ding anniversary in a Nazi prison.
She has since died.
During the war, besides tending
his flower garden, he dabbled IN
mechanical doodads, an old love.
Mr.. Adenauer has invented all
sorts of gadgets but hasn't sue
ceeded in getting any patented.
Among them: An electric brush
that kills insects on plants and
trees, special glasses to protect the
eye against the beams of oncoming
auto headlights.
Although there are old Nazis in
his government. Chancellor Ade-
nauer has no sympathy for dicta-
torship. He seems completely UNI
aware of the fact that he himself
is a bit Of a dictator.
And he detests racism. His self
appointed task-and he has said
it again and again-is to sweep
away the lingering idea that there
is something evil. aggressive and
warhke in the German character.
-. "The Federal Chancellor" he
said in his 1949 acceptance speech.
must be both a P0od German and
a good European I want to be
both. want II see a united
Europe Only then cen my country
be free "
Meets De Gcut:
Of all the Liany accomplish
mentS of his administrations. two
stand out most strongly in Mr..
Adenauer's eyes. They are the
establishment of ties of close
cooperation between the old
European enemies. Germany and
France, and the creation of demo-
cratic institutions in West Ger
many. Two weeks ago he Travelled
to Premier Charles de Gaulle'S
home in France to join the French
leader in a call for close co-opera-
ton between their two countries.
In the Is years since the end OF
World War II, the extremists have
either been wiped out or have gone
underground to wait for the day
when Adenauer is no longer
around. The Communist Party
has been banned and the neo-Nazi
poll less than l per cent Of the
nations vote.
To Chancellor Adenauer there is
mo danger at all" that democracy
will not succeed in West GERMANY.
Democracy is nothing new in
Germany" he said. I'VE have an
old democratic tradition. 1t was
broken during the time Of the
NaZis."