Evening star., 1944-06-20
bricker Gaining
AS Backers Put
Dewey in Race
New York Supporters
Soy Governor Would.
Accept Nomination
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, June 20.-New York
hackers lifted the wraps today
on Gov. Thomas E. Dewey, the
leading contender in the Repub-
lican presidential race, but Gov.
John w. Bricker of Ohio picked
up new support in what his
friends hope may be a winning
stretch run.
The New York Governor emerged
as an all-but-avowed aspirant for
the nomination after a news con-
ference yesterday in which j. Rus
sci Sprague, national committee
man; Edwin F. Jackie. State chair
man, and Herbert Browneu, jr.,
twice Gov. Dewey's campaign man
ager, expressed the opinion Gov.
Dewey would be willing to head the
ticket If the COP wants him.
Their action In slipping OF the
blanket of silence which has sur
rounded Gov. Dewey's reaction to
the Nationwide draft campaign in
his behalf went without comment
from Bricker leaders here for the
nominating convention next week.
But in Maryland there was break
toward the Bricker GIMP some ad.
herents thought was significant.
Reese Praises Bricker.
Sheridan F. Smith of Baltimore,
named a delegate by a Republican
State convention that urged Gov.
Dewey as a candidate, announced he
would vote for Gov Bricker on the
first ballot. There were signs some
others in the 16-vote delegation
might follow this lead.
Representative Carroll Reese, Re-
publican, Of Tennessee, National
Committee member, said here Gov.
Bricker undoubtedly had made .
good impression on speaking tours
and was showing new push.
"But," he added, "it Is difficult
to say whether any of this has been
translated into delegate strength
Against this, some of the delegates,
drifting in singly and in pairs for
the opening session of the Platform
Committee tomorrow. brought along
reports of widespread Dewey back.
ing.
Senator Thomas, Republican, Of
Idaho told a reporter his States
11-vote delegation, which was un-
instructed, was solidly for Gov.
Dewey. @
Every Idaho delegats Is q Dewey
man." Senator Thomas decla1ed.
Personally I'm for Gov. Earl War.
rem of Calfornia for Vice President.
We're going to draft Dewey and
draft Warren even If Warren doesn't
| want to run. ns
West for Dewey, Kelland Seys.
Gov, Warren, the convention key.
noter, has said he does not want
any delegate to vote for him for any
Federal office.
Clarence Burlington Kelland,
Arizona national committeeman.
voiced the opinion in a lobby inter-
view that the West is "predon1i-
nantly for Dewey"
On the other hand Senator Taft,
Republican, of Ohio said the true
strength of Gov. Bricker has not
yet been shown.
In a radio speech backing Gov.
Bricker, Senator Taft said in Wash
ington last night that popular
polls are naturally unreliable" and
that equally unreliable are news
paper accounts of the attitude Of
various State delegations.
The Senator, arguing that Gov.
Bricker would make the strongest
candidate for the Republicans. said
that not over a fourth of the con-
vention delegates actually are COM
mitted to any one man.
Preserving Gov Dewey's conten-
tion that he is not a candidate, Mr..
Sprague told a press conference it
was the opinion Of New York Re-
publicans that the Governor would
come to the convention to accept
q proffered nomination.
We're here to represent the Re-
i