Evening star., 1940-04-21
Lincoln
Continued From First Page.)

In its content than he has been In
candidate personalities.
Mr.. Landon will be q member of
the Resolutions Committee at the
national convention. So will Col.
Knox, and it is expected that Rep
resentative Martin and Senator Nc
Nary also will be members. Mr.
Martin, however, has been selected
to be permanent chairman of the
convention, which might interfere
with his service on the committee.
Presumably, Gov. Stasson of Mime
sofa, who has been picked by the
convention Committee on Arrange
ments to be temporary chairman
and keynote speaker also will be in
vited to attend the pre-convention
meeting.
Uncommitted Block Likely.
It was frankly admitted that If
Mr.. Dewey continues to round up
delegate strength as he has been
doing in recent weeks he may be the
selection Of the convention on an
early ballot. Estimates last night
were, however, that Mr.. Dewey
would 60 into the convention with
an approximate 800 to 375 delegates,
Senator Taft Of Ohio with another
300, and Senator Vandenberg Of
Michigan with 100-leaving a block
of about 300 delegates in position
to settle the matter of the presiden-
tial nomination.
A good deal of work has been done
to get together such a block Of dele
gates, ready, it is said, to work in
the best interest Of the party and
to listen to the leaders. 1t was
pointed out that Mr.. Landon and
Col. Knox are from the nfiddlewest
and will have considerable influence
with large group Of delegates from
that section. Senator McNary, him.
self a favorite son candidate from
Oregon, is likely to control many Of
the delegates from the extreme
northwest and the mountain States.
Representative Martin, frequently
referred to as the No. darkhorse
candidate, may also have follow
ing among the New England
delegates.
Likely to Be Influential.
It is apparent, therefore, that the
conclusions reached by the group of
key men who will gather. II present
plans are carried out, In Philadel-
phia before the convention meets,
will be of Importance. The group
may have great influence, on choice
OF candidates as well as on the
platform.
II, when the group meets, one of
the candidates has an outstanding
lead for the presidential nomination
1t is unlikely that any effort will be
made to prevent his nomina ton.
II, on the other hand, such candi-
date fails to 60 over on the first or
second ballot, then the group is
likely to 60 into action in a material
way. 49,
Mr.. Dewey, now campaigning in
the West, has been making rapid
strides. While he has not gone into
the California primary, it is entirely
likely that he may garner num-
ber of the California delegates.
There is reason to believe that Mr..
Dewey may have the support Of
some Of Senator Johnson's friends
in California This would not en-
dear him to those who support Mr..
Hoover, it is true. Nevertheless 1t
might gain some delegate strength
on the first ballot. -.
Vandenberg Still in Race.
The proposition is advanced in
several quarters that If Mr.. Dewey
Is to be nominated, it must be done
quickly; that if he fails to 60 over
on one OF the first three ballots,
he will not win. This will, Of course,
depend on how stanch is his dele
gate support when the crucial tests
come.
Senator Vandenberg and Senator
Taft are by no means to be counted
out of he race at this date. The
Michigan Senator's speech at the
Gridiron Club dinner here a week
ago made a great impression on
many important Republicans at
tending the dinner. Many Of his
hearers insisted that Senator Van
denberg demonstrated that he is the
man best fitted to oppose President
Roosevelt or any other candidate
the Democrats may name.
The Taft drive for delegates to
the national convention goes on Is
vigorously as ever The fact many
Of the organization Republican
leaders in many Of the States, and
some Of the angels" Of the party
like Joseph Pew of Pennsylvania,
do not like Mr.. Dewey and his can
didacy encourages the Taft support
ers to believe that their candidate
has An excellent chance