Evening star., 1940-01-29
vandenbere's Name
Will Not Be Placed
On Illinois Ballot
Dewey Already Entered
For 'Stote's Preferential
Primary Election
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

that Thomas E. Dewey will file in
the Illinois presidential preferential
primary, while not unexpected, is
giving other candidates for the Re-
publican presidential nomination
something to think about.
The Illinois primary takes place
April 8. The names of candidates
for preference" of the voters must
be filed not later than so days be-
fore the primary, and the first filing
date Is February 3. It is clear that
other aspirants for preference" be-
sides Mr.. Dewey, both Republican
and Democratic, must soon make
up their minds whether to enter the
Illinois contest.
Under the Illinois law the vote in
the presidential preferential primary
Is advisory rather than compulsory.
To be really effective, therefore, a
candidate must not merely file in
the preferential primary, but also
must have slate of delegates put
in the field committed to himself.
Presumably Mr.. Dewey will do both.
Senator Taft Of Ohio has not in
dicated whether his name will be
entered in the Illinois preferential
primary.
Not on Ballot, Vandenberg Says.
Senator Vandenberg Of Michigan,
when asked II his name would ap-
pear on the Illinois ballot said, to-
day: 1T will not"
That being the case, If Mr.. Dewey
is to be challenged, 1t would appear
that Senator Taft will have to do
the challenging. or let the primary
election 60 to Dewey by default.
The New York District Attorney,
when he was here several weeks
ago, said he would go into presi-
dental preferential primaries, seek
ing delegates to the party's national
convention, except in States where
there were bona flde 'favorite son"
candidates, as for example in Ohio,
where Senator Taft is a candidate.
He has announced his entry In The
Wisconsin primary. In that State,
the friends of Senator Vandenberg
have been very active and have put
forward strong slate of delegates.
The Wisconsin primary takes place
April 2. The Taft supporters, as
well as those of Mr.. Dewey and
Senator Vandenberg, are talking of
seeking the Wisconsin delegation.
In Illinois the Republican lead
ers-the organization leaders-have
said they prefer to send an unin-
Structed and unpledged delegation
to the national convention. That
Is a usual attitude on the part of
a State political organization. But
no matter how they may feel. can
didates for the presidential nomina-
ton are at liberty to enter the
State primary if they can produce
the necessary papers.
If no other candidate challenges
Mr.. Dewey in the Illinois primary
the preference, of course. will go to
him. Whether, under those cir
cumstances, the delegates will feel
bound to vote for him at the con-
vention Is a matter to be deter
mined later.
Prize Worth Having.
Illinois delegation is prize
worth having. The State will be
represented by ST delegates in the
Republican National Convention
and So in the Democratic Conven-
ton. Only two other States have
larger delegations, New York and
Pennsylvania. OF the delegates to
the Republican Convention, so are
district delegates and seven are del
gates-at-large. The district dele
gates are chosen in the primary
and the delegates-at-large at a Re-
publican State Convention which
meets subsequent to the primary.
On the Democratic side, there has
been talk among the third termers
of placing President Roosevelt s
name in the preferential primary
Such action can be taken without
written assent given by the candi-
date. This Is different from the
Ohio primary, where any candidate
whose name is entered must give
his assent. However, If the PreSi.
dents name should be entered and
the President should let it stand
the third term riddle would be, te
all intents and purposes, answered
The Illinois law permits any candi.
date whose name has been fled in
the preferential primary to with
draw his name If he so desires. A
specific time is given for with
drawal.
An Associated Press dispatch from
Chicago said the Cook County
(Chicago) Democratic Committee
had begun circulating petitions to
place the name of President Roose-
velt on the presidential preferential
primary ballot. The petitions were
signed at meetings in each of Chi
cago's 40 wards.
Precautionary Move.
Spokesman for the committee
pointed out the circulation of petit
tions did not necessarily mean the
President planned to enter the pri-
mary, but was merely precaution-
ary move in case he did.
Supporters of Vice President Gar
ner for the Democratic nomination
have talked Of placing his name in
the Illinois preference primary. If
such is done, Federal Security Ad-
ministrator Paul v. McNutt and
Senator Wheeler of Montana also
might enter. However, If the Presi-
dents name should be entered and
not withdrawn, any of the other
candidates would have a tough time,
Illinois observers say.
The Dewey campaign in Illinois
got under way today when petitions
to place his name on the preference
primary ballot were mailed to al
Republican ward committeeman ir
Chicago, to leaders of various Re.
publican groups and to precinct
committeeman downstate. The Law
requires q minimum of 5000 sigma.