The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-05-11
Observations
Bricker, Stassen,
Johnston to Receive
Second Choice?
BY Helen Esssry


Baekers of Ohio's Governor John
Bricker, United States Chamber OF
Commerce President Eric Johnston
and Lieut.. Comdr. Harold Stassen
OF the Navy for the Republican pres
idential nomination are standing
their ground. although most Of
them now privately concede New
York's Governor Thomas f. Dewey
Will win the COP plum In a romp.
II is an open secret on Capitol
Hill that Dewey probably will be-
named TO head the ticket on the
first ballot, and certainly by the
second.
Thus. with announcement that
Gen. Douglas Macarthur is not A
candidate. Bricker. Johnston and
Stassen-iu the eyes OF their spon-
sors-are top-fligAt vice presiden'
tial timber, and authoritative polit-
ical sources believe one OF them will
be Dewey's running mate when the
chips are down.
Led by Senator Robert A. Taft OF
Ohio, hackers Of the Buckeye gov
ernor will wage a hard but futile
fight and then gladly settle for the
second place on the ticket. Repub-
licans are said to feel that Bricker.
from the Middle West, would be
certain to bring Ohio into their
camp in November. They regard
him as a sound, able citizen who
would round out what they con
slider an 'invincible' Dewey ticket.
Stassen, who resigned as Mime
sofas governor 10 enter the Navy,
will be backed to the hilt by Sena.
tor Joseph Ball, his campaign a
ager. Stassen. who already has an
nounced he can be drafted for the
presidency. is thought also willing
10 accept the vice presidential
nomination-particularly in the
light OF views on International CO.
operation and peace machinery eN-
pressed by Dewey in his speech last
week in New York.
The real dark horse however.
may well be suave. world-minded
Eric Johnston, who has put his
views more and more before the
public as time for the convention
approaches.
Johnston. a middle.of.the-road
liberal, is a Far Westerner, from
the state Of Washington. who
would weigh heavily on the Pacific
Coast in the voting.
Death OF Navy Secretary Frank
Knox dealt a heavy blow TO plans
for the merger Of the armed sery-
ices into a single department Of ma
tional defense.
Members OF the House Commit
tee on Postwar Military Policy re.
vealed that Knox. Just before his
death. was ready 10 endorse the pro-
posed merger in principle.
Instead, acting Navy Secretary
James V .Forrestal came before the
committee and voiced opposition OF
the Navy to immediate legislation
consolidating the armed services.
This has caused some members
OF the House to question whether
Forrestal would exert any great in
fluence on the powerful group OF
senior admirals who control tha
Navy, or would give them a free
hand. The movement to install For.
restal as Knox's successor is said
10 have the backing of the admir-
ais.
With the Army leading the fight
10 merge the armed services, Presi-
dent Roosevelt is faced with 4
problem OF far.reaching importance.
Sending troops into the Chicago
properties Of Montgomery Ward
and Company is virtually certain TO
bring efforts In Congress to restrict
powers OF the President when the
second war powers act comes up
for renewal. .
This act, with its vast body OF
powers, must be renewed before
Dec. 81, Or it will go out OF exist.
ence.
Therefore, some time in the com.
Ing months Administration leaders
In Congress must start In motion a
bill to continue the act. When they
do. senators and representatives
aroused by the Montgomery Ward
plant seizure may propose curbs
on the Chief Executives powers to
take owe properties.
Labor experts read into the short.
lived rebellion OF United Mine
Workers leaders in Illinois a move
on the part OF Ray Edmundson. Ill.
nois state L. NJ. c. president, to
succeed John L. Lewis as national
head OF the union.
Edmundson had been Lewis heir
apparent for a long time, but appar-
emily the "boss' felt that his III.
nois lieutenant was getting too big
for his britches. SO the UNIV. ex-
ecutive board slashed Illinois ad.
ministrative funds.
Edmundson exploded and an.
nounced his resignation as state
u. NJ. w. president.
New Haven, Conn.-OPA Admin.