Milford chronicle., 1959-02-27
WE SHALL SEE MUCH POLITICS
THIS YEAR

major parties are full of diSsensiOn and with
opposed factions seeking power. Neither
party has anyone who can be considered
safe bet for the Presidential nomination.
And neither party, despite the Democratic
sweep of last November, can afford to rest
on its oars and assume all is well-a fact
which the professionals in both camps fully
understand and are acting upon.
That sweep, of course, led numbers of
people to believe that the COP was on its
death bed. But this view indicates short
memory or a lack of historical knowledge.
Both the Democratic and the Republican
parties have been on the ropes before and
have come roaring back. For instance, the
Democratic surge in 1882 was even greater
than that of last year-whereas, following
the Wilson Administration, the party had
been deep in the doldrums most of the time.
The professionals must contend with
many problems. For one thing, neither par
ty can present anything resembling a united
front on leading issues. Both contain Sen
ators, representatives and Governors who
cover the political spectrum from far right
to far left.
For still another, the personality of cam
didates has become an infinitely more i'm
portant factor than it used to be-largely,
no doubt, because of the vast changes in
means of communication. When the candi
living room, personal magnetism becomes an
asset of jewel-like value.
Right now, on the Democratic side, the
leading Presidential possibilities are Sena-
tors Kennedy and SymingtOn. Former Pres
ident Truman, potent force in his party
still, backs the latter But both face strong
opposition, and this is case where there
can be many slip twixt the cup and the lip.
Developments on the Republican side, so
L L l.nz-- .o4s
dent Nixon, not long ago, was considered a
virtual certainty. There seems small doubt
that he is the Eisenhower choice. But a
cloud has appeared on the Nixon horizon by
the name of Nelson Rockefeller Mr. Rock
efeller swept New York State in the face
for the governorship in the face of the pow
erful Democratic tide. A newcomer to poll
tics, whom many considered the veriest anna
teur, has made the professionals eat crow.
He has not, it is true said anything to indi-
cate he wants or seeks the nomination-not
in so many words at least. But his inaugural
address as Governor certainly was an un-
usual one He gave much more attention to
national and world problems than to state
problems. He presented ideas designed to-
appeal both to conservatives and liberals.
Indeed, so experienced a political commen-
tator as w. S. White writes that in this adj
dress the new governor has Thrown a rock
into the pond, the fat into the fire and his
hat into the ring"
The great old American game of politics
has lost none of its color and fascination.
HOSPITAL HAZARDS
The nation has seen a rash of hospital
building since the end of World War III.
Cities are getting fine new hospitals and ad-
ditions to older institutions. Many smaller
communities have been in frenzy of ac-
tivity, raising money, debating matters of
policy and design, getting the buildings up
and equipped and stated.
Most of this is fine-if the hospitals are
big enough, if they are we'll enough financed
to have adequate modern equipment, well
enough supplied with doctors and nurses.
But the very small hospital in the very small
town has inherent hazards which enthuSiaS-
tice hackers are often slow to recognize.
Often they assume that new little hos
pital with its attractive furnishings and
shiny operating rooms gives the town better
medical protection than the former arrange
ment of having to driye 80 or 40 miles to the
hospital in a bigger town. Yet if the new
hospital actually is little more than top
notch first aid center, without constant at
tendance of fine doctors and nurses, the pa
tient might do better to ride the 80 miles.
The needs of modern medicine are so ex-
pensiye and complicated that building
proper hospital of any size is major pro-
ject. Much of the modern equipment car
be used more economically in fairly large
hospital, and likewise stats of trained spe-
cialists can be used more efficiently in such
an institution.
Each community has to judge for itself
considering such factors as distance to other
medical facilities, needs of the area, size OF
population, funds available. In some areas it
is smart for three or four small towns tc
team together to support one good hospital
In others, the practical solution would be ar
excellent first aid station and standby am
bulance service to take the seriously ill to
hospital.
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WHITE HOUSE GUESTS