Evening star., 1942-12-17
The COP Outlook


Convention meets, presumably in
June Of 1914, it will be faced with a
decision as important as any ever to
confront similar assembly. Per-
haps more important. For if the
trend away from the New Deal Dem
ocratic administration continues, the
nominee of that convention will be
the next President of the United
States. In all probability the next
President will have to face problems
OF the utmost gravity, both at home
and abroad. If the war is still on
these problems will have to do with
q vigorous prosecution of the war to
ultimate victory. If hostilities have
ceased, or should be on the wane.
there will be the problems of peace
and reconstruction.
The conditions that then exist. and
the events leading up to those con-
ditions, may we'll dictate the Re
publican choice for President. As Of
today it is presumed that the choice
for the nomination lies between
Governor John W. Bricker, the three
times elected chief executive of Ohio,
and Wendell L. Willkie, the party
nominee in 1910. In temperament
and in direction these men are as
far apart as the poles.
Unexpectedly, in view Of the ex-
cellent chances for Republican vic
tory at the polls two years hence,
there has been a sudden exodus of
potential Republican candidates for
the presidency. The Governor ELECT
Of New York, Thomas E. Dewey, has
declared his intention of serving his
four years in Albany-and that he is
not and will not be a candidate for
President in 1914. Senator Taft of
Ohio has taken himself out of the
race, announcing his intention to
seek reelection to the Senate and
throwing his support to Governor
Bricker The most recent announce
ment of candidacy is that Of
Senator Vandenberg Of Michigan.
The Michigan Senator insists that
the next Republican presidential
candidate should be found among
new timber. This would appear to
eliminate in his mind, both Governor
Bricker and Mr.. Willkie. His sug-
gestion seems to point to some out
standing figure arising from the
welter of war.
A year from now however, the
pre-convention campaign for the
Republican nomination will be under
way. Doubtless, preliminary work is
being done today for potential can
didates. 1t is little enough time for
the emergence of a new figure,
capable of grasping the Imagination
Of the American people. But 1t can
be done. A year before the Repub-
licans nominated Mr. Willkie in their
now historic Philadelphia conven-
tion, few persons would have pre-
dicted such an outcome.
The men who have said they do not
intend to become candidates for the
presidential nomination are among
the most able on the Republican list
Of possibilities. It Is within the
bounds, of course, that the national
convention, brushing aside personal
wishes, may turn to one of them
and demand acceptance of a presi-
dental nomination. 1t has been
often said that no man could prop
erly refuse such a demand. That
being the case, present refusals to be
considered candidates for the nomi-
nation must take on a different
aspect,
It would be difficult to believe
there will be dearth Of candidates
for this great office when the time
arrives to make q selection. But
whether there be many or few, the
hope Of the American people must be
that the Republican National Con-
vention will be wise in its choice,
dominated not by the desires of any
group of interests no matter how
powerful, but dominated solely by
the desire to act wisely for the bene-
at of the whole people.