Evening star., 1946-12-26
Politics in Ohio
Bv Doris FleeSon

y
Ohio politicians, pleading to be taken
off the hook In the matter of the rival
presidential candidates. OF Senator
Taft and Senator ELECT Bricker, maneu-
yered the two men into their decision
for an early conference.
The argument was made to them that
while it remained uncertain which one
came first in '48, Gov. Dewey OF New
York, about whose candidacy there Is
no. doubt whatever, was romping away
with the polls, public sentiment and
delegates
Senator Taft has expressed doubt that
q conference now would accomplish
much that events could not swiftly alter.
He has been in the Senate long enough
to realize how very much both will be
on the spot in the months to come.
But he has been advised by his friends
and accepts as fact the statement that
in fight for the delegation with his
junior colleague, Mr.. Bricker will win.
While Mr.. Taft has been here, the three
term Governor built up tremendous
organization, most of which is still loyal
to him. He is also personally popular
and a great many people are under
obligation to him.
x +
This is an old story to Senators who
often find that while they are in the
process of becoming great national
figures, their Governors have quietly
and without benefit of national pub
licity regarding their every act built
formidable machines. 1t is one reason
Presidents are so often ex-Governors,
rather than ex-Senators.
1t is distinctly possible that the two
men are not going to be able to cut up
Ohio between them on schedule. At
attack on merger of the Military and
Naval Affairs Committees which ap-
peared the same day. He speaks of the
combination of committees as, scrap
ping the experience of many members
of Congress who have given good deal
of time and thought to the respective
problems of the Naval and Military
Affairs Committees" Now even if all
returning Representatives want service
on the House Committee on Armed
Services, there will be room for one
or two additional Republicans, depend
fixed at 1914 or 20-13. In other words,
every reelected Republican now on the
Military or Naval Committees will find
place on the Armed Service Committee,
If he wants it. AS for the Democrats,
only half dozen or so of the most
has been on the Military or Naval
Committees for more than two years
seems likely to have to give up place.
The loss on the Senate Armed Ser
greater, but Mr.. Lawrence does not
point out that there would be loss if
the committees remained separate since
the Senate is reducing all its COM
mittees to 13-man groups. Probably not
much experience" will be lost, since
under the old system, where each Sena-
tor had five, six or seven committee
assignments, the Military and Naval
Affairs Committees usually conducted
their deliberations with less than half
dozen Senators present.
Mr.. Lawrence also stated that the
committees will be packed in advance
with the viewpoint of one armed service
as against the other" But since mem-
bers of both old committees will be on
the combined committees, the state
ment patiently is erroneous.
Mr.. Lawrence also echoes Represent
ative Coles contention that merger of
the committees should await action on
the merger of the armed forces them
selves.
If service unification is to come,
the transition will be facilitated by the
creation in advance in Congress OF a
group of men prepared to handle the
problems of both the Army and the
Navy
If service unifcation does not come
about, then it is all the more impor-
tant to have somewhere coordination
of defense policies. If that co-ordina-
ton is not to be achieved in the execu-
tive branch, 1t is all the more vitaHy
important that it be brought about IN
the legislative branch.
JOHN sL1NKMAN.
COS Critically Appraised
To the Editor of The Star:
read the story of how the con-
scientious objectors are asking to be
released from confinement. That sure
is a laugh.
MANY boys like myself have been
overseas for 80 or more months, risking
our lives every minute of every one OF
those days.