Evening star., 1939-05-19
Michigan Officials
Start Vandenberq
Presidential Boom
Republicans Release
Statement Intended
To 'Droft' Senator
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

A Presidential boom for Senator
Vandenberg Of Michigan, formally
launched in his State yesterday, was
regarded here today as the first i'm
portant step to put him in line for
the Republican nomination in 1940
The movement took official form
in Lansing. the State capital, when
Gov. Luren Dickinson, all Repubi-
can State elective officials, State
Senator Felix H. H. Flynn. presi-
dent of the Senate, and Speaker
Howard Nugent of the House, signed
and released statement drafting"
Michigans senior Senator as a can
didate for the nomination
The statement follows:
1--WE, the undersigned, represent
ing official Republicans of Michigan,
present our greeting to Republicans
in other States and commend to
their 1910 attention our united and
unanimous belief that the Michigan
senior Senator, Arthur H. Vanden-
berg, should be drafted for the next
Republican Presidential nomina-
ton.
Has Already Declined.
THE senior Senator from Mich
igan has declined to be candidate
for the 1910 presidential nomination.
We who are his neighbors know he
means what he said We have not
asked him to change his high
minded attitude which rates this
next presidential nomination above
all ordinary political purposes. but
we also know that he puts his coun-
try ahead of every other matter,
political or personal, and that he
would never decline any assignment
to patriotic service.
( Therefore, without his knowledge
or consent, we assert our faith in
him. We express our belief that
Michigan will ask his nomination.
We take this means of commencing
him to the good opinion of our fell
low Republicans throughout the
Nation"
Senator Vandenberg today eX-
pressed himself as grateful" for the
expression OF confidence by his
friends in Michigan. He NAV take
occasion to say more when the mes
sage has been personally received
by him here.
Gates May Be Left Ajar.
Indeed, it is expected that the
Senator's statement. when it is
made. will not close the door. MANY
OF his friends already have ex-
pressed the opinion that, if he
should boone a candidate-even a
receptive candidate-Mr. Vanden-
berg would have large following
for the nomination. He has been
urged many times to become a
candidate. Up to the present. how
ever, he has insisted again and
again that he is not candidate
for the nomination.
His name, with those of Thomas F
Dewey of New York, racket-bustinp
district attorney. and Senator Taft
OF Ohio, has been put forward per-
SlStently IN discussions of Republic
an presidential possibilities. Not
long ago, a New York columnist
wrote he had been informed bv
Senator Capper of Kansas that Mr..
Vanoenberg would decline presi-
Dental nomination if it came his
way.
The Michigan Senator denied that
that he had ever said he would
not accept nomination-that 1t
would be entirely improper to say
he would not accept a nomination
which had not been rendered him.
He added that if there was any
thing to be said on the subject,
he. himself, would make the state
ment when the time came.
Campaigning Picking Up.
With the Republican National Con-
vention which is to nominate the
party's 1910 candidate, Just a wear
in the future. campaigning for vari-
Gus possible candidates is becoming
more and more brisk. None of these
potential candidates has formally
announced himself a candidate.
none has thrown his hat in the ring
Senator Vandenberg may occupy
strategic position in this race for
the presidential nomination. In the
tlrst place, he comes from a section
OF the country on which the Re
puolicans must rely heavily for vic
tory. Secondly, he has had much
experience in national affairs and
Tor several years has been an out
standing Republican in the Senate.
In 1886, efforts were made to have
MN become candidate for Vice
president on the ticket with former
GOV. ALI. M. Landon of Kansas. But
Mr.. Vandenberg declined the honor.
saying that he believed he could be
OF more service to the party and the
country if he remained a Senator.