Browning chief., 1946-01-04

WNU Service, 1916 Eye Street NV,
Washington, D. G.
National elections still 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 policy of government it
has espoused with only occasional
departures, the ticket will be headed
by President Harry S. Truman. As
matter Of fact, that can now be
dismissed from conjecture; unless
fate intervenes, Truman Is the can
didate.
However, passing of a President
and the elimination from the po-
litical 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 will 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-
ingly Democratic community head
ed for the past IL years by Mayor
LaGuardia. The Little Flower de-
fled description by party label, but
his replacement on January l will
be regarded as substitution of a
Democrat for Republican. No one
familiar with New York state poll
tics needs to be told how poor are
the chances of a candidate for
governor who lacks city support.
Dewey faces the New York elec-
torate two years hence. And he
does 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 aspirants as to make
them virtually alone in the field.
One is disciple of the old school,
the other an ultra-modern in poll
tics-the former, Senator Arthur
Vandenburg of Michigan; the lat
ter, former Governor Harold Stas-
sen Of Minnesota. A close third,
and a vigorous contender, is ex-
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
of every political break. A forceful
orator, he captures headlines, is
known throughout the country.
There is no buster to his oratory;
it has been pointed at specific OBJ
jects and he has clicked. With the
country facing an era of internation-
al dealings Of transcendent impor-
tance, he is well versed in world
affairs. He was chosen over several
other illustrious party members as
Republican delegate to the Unit
ed Nations conference at San Fran
cisco, where he acquitted himself
well.
In the field of labor relations-sec-
ond today only to International
problems-he was the sponsor of
the recent labor-management meet
ings in Washington, which, II they
did no more, proved that employers
and employees can sit down at the
same table and discuss their diff
ferences even II they cannot eradi-