Evening star., 1939-05-26
House Group Urges
Republicans Draft
vandenberg in 40
Mopes Heods Delegation
Coneurring in Demand
Made by Governor
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

BY u. GOULD LINCOLN.
Michigan's IL Republican men,
bers of the House of Representa-
tives. concurring in a demand made
by Gov. Dickinson and other Re-
publican officials in the State. today
called on the G.. o. P. to draft"
Senator Arthur H. Vandenberg for
the presidential nomination in 1910.
The House delegation, headed by
Representative Carl E. Mapes, ad-
dressed a letter to Senator Vanden-
berg. transmitting to him not only
its own action but copy of the plea
made to "the Republicans of the
United States" by Gov. Dickinson,
all other State officers, including the
speaker Of the House and the presi-
dent of the Senate. Twenty-one
Republican State Senators joined
sentatives-all the Republican men,
bers of the State Legislature ex-
cept one, a Representative from
Owosso, the home town of Thomas
E. Dewey, racket-busting New York
district attorney.
This is the first time Senator
Vandenberg has actually had be-
fore him copy of the draft" plea
made by the Governor and his Re-
publican associates in Michigan.
Answer Is Due Soon.
1t is expected Senator Vanden-
berg will make answer within a few
day and that he will not close the
door on the draft movement. He
has already expressed qualification
because of the confidence in him
announced by the Michigan Repub-
licans.
The letter of the House delegation
to Senator Vandenberg said in part:
THE Governor and other Repub-
lican State administrative officials
of Michigan and the Republican
members of the State Legislature,
Senate and House, as representa-
tives of official Republicanism in
Michigan, in statements addressed
to the Republicans of the United
States declare that it is their united
and unanimous belief that you
should be drafted for the next Re-
publican presidential nomination.
In this belief the members of the
Michigan Republican delegation in
Congress heartily concur. Our
knowledge of you and of your work
in the Senate convinces us that you
are pre-eminently qualified by char
acter, ability, experience, industry,
knowledge of public affairs and
sound and constructive leadership,
to meet the exacting duties of the
presidency in these critical times.
View Believed Spreading.
1--WE are satisfied that the position
taken and the sentiments expressed
by the Republican State officials of
Michigan represent the views not
only of the Republicans of our State
but of constantly increasing num-
ber of Republicans throughout the
country as we'll"
In a letter to Representative
Mapes, the dean of the Michigan
Republican delegation in the House,
Gov. Dickinson expressed confidence
that the delegation would desire to
take some action rejecting the same
spirit that we have endeavored to
express" in regard to Mr. Vanden-
berg and the presidential nonnina-
ton.
Mr.. Mapes promptly called a
meeting of the delegation and took
favorable action.
The Michigander's plea to the
Republicans Of the United States"
recited the qualifications of the
senior Senator, calling him the "out-
standing Republican statesman in
Washington during the last six
years-so recognized from coast to
coast"
Opposition to Administration.
'He has been the focus of opposi-
ton to the present administration"
the plea continued. He manned
the trenches when there were few
others on the firing line. Yet he
has constructively co-operated in
the development of progressive leg
islation. He knows the national
PlOUlClllS dS w 1CW OtAlCAS.
The statement asserted that the
Michigan officials were taking this
action without the knowledge or
consent" of Senator Vandenberg, but
added that they had every faith he
would not decline ANY assignment
to patriotic service"
Senator Vandenberg has re-
peatedly said he was not a candidate
for the presidential nomination.
The present demand, however,
from Michigan Republicans,
launches q real boom for the Sen
ator.
Among his Republican colleagues
in the Senate, 1t was declared today
that Mr.. Vandenberg's chances for
the 9. o. p. nomination are rapidly
developing.