Evening star., 1944-07-02

Republicans have returned to their
homes from their 23d quadrennial ma
tional convention-in many respects one
of their most remarkable conventions
happy over the nomination of the
Dewey -Bricker ticket and full of hope.
The Dewey luck held to the end May
be it was just management. The pres
idential nomination was always the
New York Governors. But there was a
serious threat of disunity and bitter
ness. This was eliminated, first by the
refusal of Gov. Earl Warren of Cali
fornia to be considered for the vice
presidential nomination. and second by
the withdrawal of Gov. John w. Bricker
of Ohio from the presidential race and
his ultimate nomination for Vice Presi-
dent.
The Bricker forces felt they had been
pushed around. Midwestern Repubi-
cans generally felt their great section of
the country was being ignored, partic-
ularly by the Dewey campaign man.
ciflc Coasts were dominating the Re-
publican picture
There were several outstanding
speeches during the convention-begin-
ming with the keynote speech of the
temporary chairman, Gov. Warren. and
concluding with the acceptance speech
delivered by Gov. Dewey himself.
Bricker Strengthens Ticket.
O,itstondino bouyever uoe tba cpaocb
in which Gov. Bricker, yielding up his
own ambitions to be the presidential
nominee, withdrew from the race and
urged the nomination of Dewey. 1t was
dramatic, unselfish and good sportsman
ship Next to Dewey's own speech, it
was the high light of the convention
1t struck the right note. 1t showed
Gov. Bricker a good loser-admired by
Americans as much or more than good
winner. 1t had the effect of drawing
the convention delegates together; of
uniting the party in a major way. For
that, Gov. Dewey can thank the Gov
ernor of Ohio, now his running mate.
Bricker's withdrawal was followed i'm
mediately by an announcement that the
name of 1t. Comdr. Harold E. Stassen,
former Governor Of Minnesota, would
not be placed before the convention
either. The announcement was made
by Senator Ball of Minnesota Thirty
five delegates had been instructed to
vote for Stassen. So the way was cleared
for single nomination-that of Dewey.
Gen. Macarthur had sent word weeks
ago he would not accept if nominated.
Gov. Willis of Kentucky, both of whom
had intended to have their names pre-
sented, had fallen out of the race in the
last big surge of delegates to Dewey.
Furthermore, the Republicans, as
they wended their way from Chicago
came to the conclusion they had nomi-
mated their strongest possible ticket
For not only is Gov. Bricker good vote
getter in Ohio, with a strong appeal to
other Midwest States, but he has cam
paigned this year from one coast to an
other and is known and liked by thou
sands of Republican workers.
Ohio Republicans are obviously de-
lighted because their Governor has a
place on the national ticket. Until Gov
Warren wrote his eleventh hour letter to
the chairman of the Oregon delegation
stating he could not accept the vice
presidential nomination. it had been
taken for granted by many of the dele
gates that the vice presidential nomina-
tion was to go to him. They feel now
that the campaign made by Bricker was
justified.
Two Leaders Joined.
An unusual feature of the Republican
ticket lies in the fact that the two men
who had the greatest delegate strength
for the presidential nomination are both
on it. This has rarely been the case,
either with the Democrats or Republi-
cans. For example, when Wendell L.
Willkie was nominated in the Republi-
can convention of 1940 the convention
turned to the late Senator McNary of
Oregon for the vice presidential nomina
ton, instead of Senator Taft of Ohio
who had been the runner-up for the
presidential nomination.
In 1882, when President Roosevelt
was nominated for the first time, the
Democrats picked John Garner OF
Texas-not AL Smith of New York, who
had been the principal contender
against Roosevelt And in 1910, the
Democrats chose-at the instance of the
President himself, Henry Wallace OF
Iowa for Vice President-not James A
Farley, who had challenged the third
term nomination.
The most amazing part of the con.
vention, however, was the draft OF
Gov. Dewey. The New Yorker had in.
sisted for year and half he was not
candidate and that he would not be-
come candidate. He stuck to this
position, as he had said he would. The
Republican party. however, would not
let it rest that way. Followed the
amazing spectacle of State delegation
after State delegation declaring for
Dewey as soon as they reached Chicago
for the convention. Indeed. the nomi-
nation was virtually completed before