The Key West Citizen

Suggestion On Ike Resented
Political Argument On Cuba Gets Hot
By Jack Bell
WASHINGTON (AP)- Political argument over the Cuban crisis flared up again today after a Democratic spokesman's suggestion that Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower bow out of the campaign.

Indignant Republicans found no validity in a complaint by Sen. Vance Hartke, D-Ind., that some of Eisenhower's barnstorming statements might be misleading because they indicated "there is room for criticism of the position taken by the President" in the Cuban missile threat.

At Gettysburg, Pa., a spokesman said Eisenhower was not available for comment.

Hartke told a news conference Tuesday he was speaking only for the Democratic senatorial campaign committee he heads and not for the White House when he suggested Eisenhower give serious consideration to cancelling future campaign appearances.

Hartke was vague about the specific Eisenhower statements to which he objected. He said that among other things the former Republican president had left "the clear implication that this crisis is no different from any other one."

He said this could be interpreted abroad as indicating that there was not solid support for President Kennedy's action in ordering the quarantine of offensive arms shipments and demanding the dismantling of missile bases.

He added that because Eisenhower is beloved by the American people, he has a greater responsibility than almost anyone else, not to say anything that could leave the impression that we are not united at home in our quest for world peace.

In a speech at Gettysburg, Pa., 24 hours after Kennedy announced his action, Eisenhower said that Americans must unite in support of the President. But he added "when the present crisis shall have passed into history-like all the earlier incidents in the Cuban situation have passed-it will be entirely proper then to examine and analyze and criticize decisions and actions taken."

Hartke criticized Republicans who have suggested that the election campaign had something to do with Kennedy's timing of his actions.

"Whatever our government has done or will do in this crisis is American policy," he said in a statement. It is not a partisan political policy."

He said that Kennedy had removed himself and Cabinet members from the campaign. He added that former President Harry S. Truman had cancelled further appearances.

"You might think the opposing party would do likewise, but they have not," he said. "Now I would not deny them this advantage, if it is an advantage. But I do suggest they have a deep responsibility not to misuse it."