Evening star., 1940-04-13
The Political Mill
Gov. Stossen Regarded Most Likely
For Republican Keynote Speaker

held the speakers rostrum for 2
hours and II minutes. A small
part of that time he was not speak
ing-because the loud speaker broke
down. It Is argued that a keynote
speech should not take more than
As minutes, that speaker who can
not define the main issues In that
time is lacking in terminal facilities.
Not only would the committee
members be pleased to Ak a limit
for the keynote speech, but also for
nominating and seconding speeches
for candidates at the convention.
Frequently hours are spent placing
candidates in nomination at the
national conventions of both major
political parties. These are inter-
spersed with hour-long "demonstra-
tions" by supporters of the various
candidates-each group seeking to
outlast the others. A half hour
limit for a nominating speech and
10 minutes or less for a seconding
speech would make great hit with
the delegates attending the con-
vention-as well as the visiting
guests.
The stop Dewey campaign is on
IN earnest now that the New York
district attorney has come to the
fore by his victories in the Wiscon-
sin and Nebraska primaries over
Senator Vandenberg of Michigan
and his big vote in Illinois, where
he ran Lnopposed. 1t is constantly
pointed out that winning in presi-
Dental preferential primaries has
by no means settled the nomina-
ton for President by Republican
National Conventions in the past.
That. as matter of fact, is true
However, Herbert Hoover demon
strated his strength and his vote
getting abilities IN some of the pri-
maries in 1928. and that demonstra-
ton did not hurt his chances at ALL
Instead it helped him decidedly He
was nominated on the first ballot
in Kansas City.
Experience of Candidates
1t is one thing to 60 to the voters
and prove vote-getting ability and
another to remain outside of such
tests and rely upon organization
leaders in various States to do the
job of winning delegate votes The
latter has been the technique
adopted by many of the candidates
for the presidential nomination in
the past-and is today.
Mr.. Dewey, because of his youth
SO years old-is chided because. 1t
is said, he has had no experience
with foreign relations-at a time
when most of the world outside of
the United States is at war. He
has not had the experience of serv-
ing in the Senate. as have Senator
Vandenberg and Senator Taft. for
example. But it is not to be con-
cluded that Mr. Dewey has reached
his present age without giving some
study to Americas history and its
foreign relations. He has had Ger
tainly a, much opportunity to alb
sorb information as has Gov. Brick
er of Ohio, for example, although
not as much time.
No one knows exactly how we'll a
President will handle the affairs of
the Nation-the foreign affairs
until he has been tried. No one
knows how we'll any of the candi-
dates, either Democratic or Repub-
lican, would do as Chief Executive
in the event the United States
should be drawan into the European
war or any other war. None OF
them has had such experience in
the past. President Roosevelt was
an Assistant Secretary of the Navy
during the World War, it is true.
But that is very far from directing
American foreign policy during
those troublous years.
Mr.. Dewey has declared himself
in favor of keeping this country out
of the European conflict. He may
stick to that position throughout
the campaign and have it prove
safe ground for him to take In