Evening star., 1944-04-23
Warren's Choice as Keynoter
Gives Him His Big Chance
Spot in Lmelight May Build Him Up Though
Precedent Indicates Nomination Would
Be Unusual
By Gould Lincoln.

The political future OF Gov. Earl War
ren OF California, keynote speaker
choice of the Committee on Arrange
ments for the Republican National
Convention, has become a chief topic OF
speculation. For months Gov. Warren
has been mentioned prominently as a
possible nominee for President, but
more frequently as running mate for
Gov. Dewey Of New York should the
latter be the national conventions selec-
ton for President.
His unexpected choice to be keynote
speaker and temporary chairman of the
national convention has been inter-
preted two ways-if not more First,
that 1t will eliminate him from a place
on the national ticket Second, that 1t
will build him up, give him chance to
win the support of the delegates who
will make the nominations.
Gov. Warren has repeatedly said,
since his name was first advanced last
summer for place on the national
ticket, that he was not candidate; that
he planned to finish out his four-year
term as Governor and would welcome
reelection to that Office. His stand in
this particular has been strangely like
that of Gov. Dewey. But, as in Dewey's
case, the demands of the Republican
party may upset these plans.
Few Have Made Step.
One thing is certain, Gov. Warren. by
his coming keynote speech and his ham
ding OF the early stages Of the conven-
ton, can increase or decrease the de-
mand of the Republicans who would like
to aiu their national ticket by placing
on it man who has helped materially
to turn California from the Democratic
to the Republican column. Few men
have by their speeches to national con-
ventions won for themselves nominal
tions either for President or Vice Presi-
dent. And few men have stepped from
the Craftsmanship, temporary or perma-
nent, Of national conventions to place
on the national ticket.
Outstanding instances where speech
to national convention has resulted in
a presidential nomination are those OF
James Abram Garfield, Senator from
Ohio, and William Jennings Bryan of
Nebraska. Garfield. who had been q
major general in the Union Army, a
member OF the House and then Sena-
tor, made the speech in the Republican
National Convention nomination OF
John Sherman for President. He was
strongly opposed to the nomination OF
Gen. Grant for third term On the
36th ballot the convention swung to
GARFIELD. He was nominated and SUBJ
sequently elected President. ~
MIR. Bryan, who went to the Demo-
cratic National Convention as a dele
gate in 1896, was a Leading supporter Of
bimetaliam. He was at the time editor
Of the Omaha World Herald and had
been . member OF the House. ne had
much to do with the writing of the
party platform, advocating "free silver"
Only So years old, with gift for ora
tory rarely equaled, Bryan delivered
speech supporting the platform which
reused the convention to tremendous
enthusiasm. In it he said: "You shall
not press down upon the brow of labor
this crown Of thorns; you shall not
cruelty mankind upon cross of gold"
1t won him the presidential nomination
and, although he was defeated in the
election, gave him place of power in
the Democratic party which lasted for
30 years. -
Robinson Made Ticket.
In the last Is years, only one man. who
served as chairman of a national nomi-
mating convention has been placed on a
national ticket-the late Senator "Joe"
Robinson of Arkansas. Three times he
was elected permanent chairman of a
Democratic National Convention, in
1920, 1928 and 1885, 1t was in 1928 he
was nominated for Vice President to run
with Gov. Al Smith of New York in the
Inflated campaign of that year None
OF the Republican chairmen of national