Evening star., 1946-12-26
Stussen Seen Aiming
To Halt Power Abuses
Significance of Early Filing
Is Generally Overlooked
By David Lanorence

By David Lawrence
There is something rather extraor-
binary about the way candidates. for
the Republican presidential nomination
are being openly discussed more than
a year and a half ahead of the time
for holding the national party conven-
tions.
In other times it was considered un-
wise to launch boom so far in ad-
vance, Yet Harold Stassen, former
Governor of Minnesota, has already an
nounced his candidacy and the two Ohio
Senators-Taft and Bricker-are try
ing to decide which shall ask for the
Buckeye States Endorsement. While
Senator Vandenberg of Michigan and
Gov. Dewey of New York have not
made any announcement of active
candidacy, the press generally expects
each to be potent factor and 1t would
occasion no surprise if one or the ether
were chosen.
Neither Senator Vandenberg nor
Gov. Dewey will begin active CAM
paigns, for delegates, however. Either
Senator Bricker or Senator Taft will be
asking pledges as soon as it is de-
ternined which one will bow to the
other.
Out to Mould Thinking.
This maneuvering is normal and GUS
tomary, with the exception Of the part
being played by former Gov. Stassen
O.
spondents would not concede Mr.. Stas-
sen much of a chance, largely because
the trend of Republican Party thinking
is supposed to be conservative. Why,
then, would Mr.. Stassen start out SO
vigorously in what some might believe
to be a hopeless cause? The answer
is that Mr.. Stassen is comparatively
young man and he is determined to help
mould the thinking of the Republican
Party whether or not it gets him the
nomination.
Mr.. Stassen will bear watching be-
cause he will not be uttering the eva
sively worded speeches and compromises
that candidates usually give forth when
they are seeking delegates. Mr.. Stassen
has approached the candidacy in the
right manner-while he would like to
win the nomination he does not want
it at the expense Of principle. He can
thus afford to take positive positions
on public questions,
Mr.. Stassen, moreover, knows that
only by having following of his own
at the convention can he influence the
committee on platform. Undoubtedly
he will enter the primaries of some of
the Western States and he may even
go into Eastern primaries.
Certainly the former Minnesota Gov
ernor will be factor to be reckoned
with as he brings about delineation
| of views inside the Republican Party.
Mr.. Stassen can by no stretch of the
imagination be called New Deal"
Republican or "Leftist," though he will
be accused of that before the campaign
is over He is much more the Willkie
type of Republican and closer to the
philosophy expressed by Theodore
Roosevelt in the days of the Progress
sive" movement
Par9 Revolt Possible.
It may be that Gov. Dewey Of
! New York Will not take an active part
in the precohvention campaign, leaving
it to the party itself to determine the
matter mIh as he did last time.
Friends, ofcourse, will work in his be-
| half and the New York Governor will
be expected to make his views known
on. curren issues.
In the md, it would not be surprising
if the sradework done by Mr. Stassen
either will cause such revolt inside
/ the Republican Party as to make him
serioys contender for the nomination
himself or to influence many voters
| to tuin to Gov. Dewey as a man
| refectng much more the liberal or
| progressive view than might be the case
with the other candidates.
The announcement of the StaSsen
candidacy is the most significant de-
velpment in national politics since the
| last elections. The real significance
seems to have been generally over
| Looked For Mr.. Stassen has under
taten really to make sure that the
T Republican Party doesn't turn the
cbck back but retains those social re-
ffms which ought to be retained while
cSrrecting the abuses in existing laws.
These abuses of power have enabled the
Eew Dealers in the name of liberalism"
to exploit the people for the benefit Of
selfish groups which, under the skin.
have proved as "reactionary" and ma
terialistic as any conservative Republi-
cans of yesteryears.
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