Evening star., 1940-04-05
Taft First Choice,
Gov. Bricker Second,
OF Ohio 6. 0. P.
Aspironts Given No Place
In State Forty's Plons
Outside Presidential
BY &. GOULD LINCOLN
Star Stad Correspondent.

COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 5.-Ohio
Republicans today are thinking of
the race for the G. o. P. presi-
dental nomination entirely in terms
of Taft, the junior Senator from
this State, who cleaned up so thor
oughly in the 1888 elections.
If any of them 60 beyond Sena-
tor Taft, they bring up Gov. John
w. Bricker, another 1898 winner.
The Governor, however, is distinctly
not a candidate for the presidential
nomination. He has said so publicly
q number of times, and pledged
his support to Taft.
Gov. Bricker, however, is to the
Ohio Republican leaders an lace
In hole" If Taft fails to go over
at the Republican National Conven-
ton next June-if there is a dead
locked convention-they will trot
out the Governor. They believe
that they not only have the strong
est candidate for the nomination Of
any of the announced aspirants, in
the person Of Senator Taft, but
also the most likely dark horse"
candidate in Gov. Bricker.
Spurn Outsiders.
Under these circumstances there
Is little wonder that other cand1-
dates, like District Attorney Thomas
r. Dewey of New York, Senator
Vandenberg of Michigan and Rep
resentatiye Martin of Massachusetts,,
Republican leader of the House, are
given little consideration. ONO is
out to get this Republican presi.
dential nomination for herself, II
It can be done. No outsider need
apply-not at this stage OF the game.
In the Governors office in the
State House hang the portraits OF
Harrison, Hayes, Mckinley and other
Ohioans who have in the past served
as President of the United States.
They are a constant inspiration TO
Ohioans today. And there is strong
impression in this city and State
that 1910 is another Ohio year. 1t
is 20 years since two Ohio leaders,
Harding and Cox, fought it out at
the polls and one of them became
President.
Talk of the fast flying Dewey and
of Senator Vandenberg leaves the
Republicans here cold. Dewey's vic
tory in the Wisconsin primary on
Tuesday, where he defeated Senator
Vandenberg in the race for that
States delegation to the Republican
National Convention, has daunted
them not at all The comment COM
mon here is that Dewey's victory in
Wisconsin means an advantage for
Senator Taft. since it may have re-
duced the chances of the Michigan
Senator for the nomination.
Republicans in Ohio are supremely
confident that the State will go Re-
publican next November The swing
away from the New Deal which
manifested itself in the municipal
elections in Ohio in 1887, grew in
importance and power in the con-
gressional and State elections in
1898, and-Hgatncane to the surfaeeI
in the municipal elections in 1889.
1T was manifest anew in the con-
gressional "by-elections" In the 18th
and 22d districts a short time ago.
IN the 17th district, the Republicans
won a seat in the House that for
10 years had been held by the
Democrats, and In the 22d, Mrs.
ChesteS Bolton, Republican victor.
ran up a vote that in percentage
was higher than that of her late
husband, who was elected in 1898.
See Roosevelt Defeat.
This confidence goes as far as
insistence that President Roosevelt
himself, should he run for a third
term, would 60 down to defeat in
Ohio next November. He carried
the State in 1886 by 100000 votes.
The Democrats of Ohio, on the
other hand, are thinking only of
Franklin D. Roosevelt as their can
didate for the presidential nomina-
ton. That goes particularly for the
party leaders. There may be Dem
ocrats among the rank and file who
dislike the idea of third term for
any President, but they are not
heard in the clamor which has gone
up here for Roosevelt to run again.
This is partly panic reaction.
Ohio went so strongly Republican in
1938-when the President was not a
candidate-that now the former
Democratic oficeholders, those still
in Office and leaders of the party,
are hoping above all to have the
man at the head of the ticket next
November who carried them to vic
tory in 1882 and 1886. It is natural
reaction.
The Democrats admit they have
an uphill fight in Ohio. They are
out of Office, and there are some
wide and bitter factional differences.
However, they have united to ar
range slate of delegates to the
Democratic National Convention
who, though nominally and legally
bound to Charles Sawyer, the ma
tional committeeman, for the pres
tdential nomination, will plunk on
the first ballot for President Roose-
velt provided he runs. The slate of
delegates, made up by the organ
ization, will be elected at the pri-
mary on May IA.
ollC "a CllC AlOSI O1oNOuA d6lll6
things to the Democratic organiza-
ton yet to happen was the recent
declination of Senator Honest Vic"
Donahey to become a stalking
horse favorite son candidate for the
presidential nomination in the
Democratic primary. His further
dechnation to be a candidate for
the senatorial nomination to sue
ceed himself merely added to the
gloom. Senator Donahey is not only
recognized as great vote getter,
but as a shrewd politician who
knows when to run.
Bricker to Be Renominated.
The May IA primary in Ohio not
only elects the Democratic and Re-
publican delegates to the respective
national conventions, but also makes
fo{o