A REPUBLICAN LOOKS AT HIS PARTY

by Arthur Larson ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 11, 1956

The Under Secretary of Labor sets forth here the pattern and principle of the New Republicanism which has been consolidated through the Eisenhower Administration. He sticks to domestic issues in illustrating his points, as he feels that it is here that New Republicanism diverges from the Opposition in attitude and action. The dichotomy of the Opposition is in itself split, for Mr. Larson refers to the old style Republicanism of 1896 and to the New Deal of 1936, both as of a time past and unsuited to today's situation. The New Republicanism is ""the great middle way"", the balance of amalgamated elements, taking the positive from the old and rejecting the negative. It believes in free enterprise tempered by government aid in emergency -- in a risk system where the victims of risk are succored; it believes in decentralization of power and state strength abetted again by federal aid when necessary. In other words, it recognizes the responsibility of government as guardian but feels that it should intervene only when a job for the people must be done and no one else can do it. Mr. Larson deals with the main domestic issues with commendable directness and definiteness: the relation of federal to state government includes a discussion of the Tidelands controversy; the farm policy is fully presented; the attitude toward business with taxation considered; the idea of labor and the legislation in that area; the caring for the individual with appropriate amending of the social security act. Perhaps aware that the 1936 donkey requires more attention than the old 1896 elephant, Mr. Larson directs his criticism more at the later period, calling the New Deal a succession of experiments on society as though it were an inanimate machine, as compared to New Republicanism's idea of it as a living organism. This unified, well organized declaration and explanation of policy that has turned necessity into advantage and advance is a fine down-to-issue presentation that voters should get to. Jumping into the breach that the historical study of The Republicans by Malcolm Moos leaves unfilled, it complements the background book and can stand alone.

Pub Date: July 11, 1956

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Harper

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 1956

Categories: NONFICTION