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Kene 15 November 526 - page two the Stevenson camp. ‘they were encouraged to do this by the vouncil of Free Czecho-Jlovakia in washington, an organization supported by | the Free surope Committee, and led by Mr. 4énkl Ripka and rapanek, a group which though composed purely of nom~american emigrees still threw its influence into the American electoral battle, regardless of the laws of hospitality. The third great factor was the vote of women and youngsters, who gave their votes to the war hero, on purely sentimental groundSe These same people had voted for the underdog Truman in 1948. Especially in the two first groups = Catholics and foreign born = one thing became painfully apparent: the so-called labor vote does not exist as a real political force. There are times, when people vote as their Unions demand. But when in théér ppinion, major interest such as religion and foreign policy are at stake, they do not vote as | Union members. It has become quite clear that the polittcal power of the Trade Unions is much smaller than estimated, and this consideration) might have rather far reaching effects in the aomestic field. ‘An interesting feature in the whole picture are the ever Éz increasing signs of a completely new Party alignment whichtakes place in the minds of the American people. The so-called Soiid South is no more. Its conservative groups are strongly shifting towards the Republic ans, while the remaining Southern Democrats see an inflgx into. their lines of an alien rfadical element. In the North too, it was | quite apparent that numerous Democrats are crossing over into the Republican folds, as best vrovenf by Senator McCatthy's Wisoonsin victory, By the same token, radical Republicans, though few in number, are gradually leaving their own Party and joining the Democrats as best illustrated by the changing of sides of Senator Wayne Morse of Yrezom. What happened then is the beginning of a complete political realignement in America, the creation of a conservative and of a radical political Party. That at least seems to be the trena at present. It is as yet too early to say whether this trend will be able to prevail upon well ingrained wayse In this connection the most interesting thing will be, what happens in the Democratic Party next. It is obvious that a violent struggle will develop for the Party's leadership, between the old-line Democrats and the xm extreme radicals of the "“Amergans for Democratic. Action" vintage. *he first blow in the struggle was the forced resignation of Paul Fitzpatrick, the old-line vemocratic leader of New York, Already a battle~royal is on between the conservative fukinw followers of James A. Farley and the radicals of the Harriman crowde The decision in this New York fight might well show the trend. The old-line Democrats argue that the electoral defeat is the fault of the radicals, who whth Wilson Wyatt, Arthur Schlesinger Jr.e, Harriman and others, were ineffective control of the disastrous Stevenson campainge The case of the old=line Democrats is nevertheless substantially weakened by the brake=-up of the ?olid South, which traditionally is the home of conservative Democrat thinking. It is as yet too early to forecast the outcome. It is nevertheless certain that the more radical Democrats will already now start the electoral campaign for 6S. A —————
