Evening star., 1944-02-13
COP Legislators Say
Bricker's Trip Here
Boosted Chances
Nv GOULD LINCOLN.


Gov. John w. Bricker of Ohio, re-
Gently on the political ropes In the
opinion of many observers, has
bounced back into the ring to make
a real fight for the Republican
presidential nomination.
That is the judgment Of many
Republican members of Congress
who heard and saw Gov. Bricker
during his two-day visit to the
Capitol last week.
Without predicting he will be
nominated, these legislators in
sisted yesterday that Gov. Bricker
had substantially increased his
prestige by his Lincoln Day dinner
speech Thursday night and his ap-
pearance at National Press Club
luncheon Friday.
Sees Big Bricker Bloc.
UNLESS I am much mistaken
one Of the Republicans said, Gov.
Bricker will enter the Republican
National Convention supported by
q very considerable bloc of dele
gates. He made a favorable i'm
preston on the many members Of
Congress who heard him speak and
who met him more informally dur
ing his stay in Washington. I per-
sonally have heard two-score men,
bers of the House, at least, express
this opinion
The member did not care to be
quoted-he is not, however, from
Ohio. He said Gov. Brieker looks
like President, speaks we'll and
has shown he has courage by the
stand he has taken on important
issues"
In some quarters these questions
were raised: Does this apparent
transformation of pussy-footing
candidate into fortnight and ag-
gresSive candidate come too late?
Has Gov. Bricker lost too much
ground in recent months to become
dangerous contender for the nom-
nation?
Whether adviSedly or not, and
whether on his own judgement or
that of his friends, the Governor
has been kept under wraps in this
race for long time, and had
avoided taking a definite stand on
important issues.
Much Spade Work Done.
That got for him bad press He
was pictured widely as colorless and
without ideas. Generally speaking,
while here he made good impress
sion OH Washington correspondents
Or certainly a much better impress
sion than in the past.
Much will depend on Gov. Brick
er's speeches and the further devel-
opment Of his attitude on important
issues during the next three months.
No delegates TO the national con-
vention have been chosen. except
those named yesterday in New
Mexico Election of delegates will
proceed rapidly, however, after April
l. Already much spade work has
been done for various candidates.
including Gov. Bricker.
The political recrudescence of
Gov. Bricker recalls predictions of
Republican leaders a year ago that
the race for the presidential nomi-
nation would lie between Wendell
L. Willkie and Gov Bricker 1t may
be that neither will be nominated
when the time comes. Mr.. Willkie
has antagonized some Republican
leaders, and Gov. Bricker still has
much lost ground to make up.
Dewey in the Picture.
Back of the scene Gov. Thomas
e. Dewey of New York. who not only
has said he will not be a candidate
but recently has made it clear that
he will not change his present atti-
tude and come out with a statement
even if his silence costs him the
nomination.
That being the case, Mr. Willkie
and Gov. Bricker are hopeful that
the present high tide of Dewey
sentiment will ebb as time goes on,
and the delegates and the leaders of
the party will shift to them They
contend that holding delegates in
line for man who says he is not
candidate will prove too tough a
job. The question here, however, is
whether the swing to Dewey has
been so strong that it cannot now
be checked