The Omaha guide., 1945-12-29


Washington, d. c..
National elections stin are three
! years away. but Washington politi.
clans and news correspondents
! particularly the latter-already are
selecting men to be watched"
The next campaign will be nor
NAL in at least one respect, name
ly. that the Democratic candidate
for all practical purposes already
has been chosen. Unless the par
TVS hierarchy wishes to confess
failure of a policy Of government it
has espoused with only occasional
departures, the ticket will be headed
by President Harry S. Truman. AS
a matter Of fact, that can nov be
dismissed from conjecture; unless
tate intervenes, Truman is the can
didate.
However, passing Of a President
Id the elimination from the po-
itical scene Of an incumbent in the
vice presidency, plus election of a
Democratic mayor in New York
City have combined to encourage
election forecasting. Mayor-elect
William O'Dwyer viii not figure per-
sonally, but because he ran rough
shod over the nominee Of Governor
Thomas E. Dewey, head of the Re-
publican national ticket in 1914, he
has brought national implications
into what otherwise would have
been simply a municipal ballot.
Who will be Truman's running
mate, currently is a popular SUBJ
ject of debate in political circles.
Whom the Republicans will place
on their ticket runs a close second.
Taking those developments up in
inverse order, attention first comes
to Governor Dewey. His was the
presidential chance discounted by
the election of O'Dwyer in New
York City, over Josiah Goldstein. a
former Democrat turned Republi-
cana circumstance that didn't
help him one bit In an overwhelm-
ngly Democratic community head
ed for the past II years by Mayor
LaGuardia. The Little Flower de-
hed description by party label. but
mis- replacement on January ! will
be regarded as substitution Of a
Democrat for a Republican. No one
familiar with New York state poll
tics needs to be told how poor +
the chances Of a candidate for
governor who lacks city support.
Dewey faces the New York cleo
!orate two years hence. And he
ioes it. recent history indicates,
without city backing. If he fails to
gain another term at Albany. that.
plus his defeat for the presidency,
Just about ends him as a contender.
Strong COP
Competitors Loom
Assuming. if only for the sake of
developing the thought, that this
diagnosis by Washington scribes is
accurate, upon whom does the
mantle fall? The subject becomes
difficult at that juncture. but there
are two who stand out SO far in
'front.' of other a~spirants as to make
hem virtually alone in the field.
0ne is a disciple of the old school,
he other an ultra-modern in poll
:ics-the former, Senator Arthur
7andenburg Of Michigan; the lat
Ter, former Governor Harold Stas-
zen of Minnesota. A close third.
and a vigorous contender, is *
Governor John Bricker of Ohio. A
political catalogue could hardly re-
cord three more differing types.
Senator Vandenburg is the most
politically orthodox Of the three. His
experience in public life has been
confined wholly to the United States
senate. but he has made the best
If every political break. A forceful
orator, he captures headlines. is
1nown throughout the country.
There is no buster to his oratory;
( has been pointed at specific OBJ
Iects and he has clicked. With the
country facing an era of information
Il dealings of transcendent impor-
.ance, he is well versed in world
affairs. He was chosen over several
other illustrious party members as
/ Republican delegate to the Unit
I'd Nations conference at San Fran
cisco. where he acquitted himself
we'll.
In the field of labor relations-sec-
,nd today only to International
oroblems-he was the sponsor of
he recent Acknowledgment meet
lngs in Washington. which, if they
lid no more, proved that employers
and employees can sit down at the
same table and discuss their diff
terences even if they cannot eradi-