Evening star., 1946-12-08
Race for House Leader
Involves Republican
Presidential Figures
By Gould Lincoln

The 1948 Republican presidential
nomination, plus clash of person.
al ambitions among Republican
members of the House, is figuring
In the brisk contest for the House
majority leadership in the new Con-
gress.
Supporters of both Gov. Dewey
OF New York and former Gov. Har-
old E. Stassen of Minnesota are re-
ported to be backing the candidacy
of Representative Charles Halleck
of Indiana for the leadership post.
The opposition to Mr.. Halleck comes
in considerable part from those who
favor Senator Taft or Senator-elect
Bricker of Ohio for the presidential
nomination.
Two Ohio Representatives, Clar-
ence Brown and Tom Jenkins, are
both available candidates. for the
post. Mr.. Jenkins has fatty de-
clared himself candidate, and Mr.
Brown says he is available.
Brown May Fight for Post.
Mr.. Brown, a member of the
House Rules Committee and di-
rector of the Republican campaign
In the recent election, is still trying
to make up his mind whether he
intends to get into the race serious
ly. II he does, bitter fight, with
no holds sbaEfed, may be expected.
The Ohio Representative is due to
make a decision by the end of this
week.
A fourth possibility is Representa-
tive Everett M. Dirksen of Illinois,
who several weeks ago announced
his candidacy. Mr.. Dirksen has his
following, too, but his candidacy
is complicated by the fact that Rep
resentative Arends of Illinois is at
present Republican whip of the
House and expects to be continued
in that Office, probably with the
added title OF assistant leader.
1t has even been intimated that
the selection of Mr. Arends for whip
over Representative Carlson of Kan
sas, now Goyernor-elect of Kansas,
had a bearing on the leadership
fight to come. and that Mr.. Arends'
victory was due, in part to desire
of friends of other candidates to
keep Mr.. Dirksen out of it.
just how vital the selection of
the House floor leader may be to
the 1948 candidacy of any presi-
Dental possibility is difficult to esti-
mate. However, since Ohio has two
potential nominees, it seems to be
the duty of friends of other presi-
dental candidates TO knock down a
floor leader from Ohio. Also. the
leanings of potential floor leader,
either conservative or progressive,
may have their influence on the
supporters of the various presi-
dental possibilities.
Taft Due Back Tomorrow.
Senator Taft is expected back to-
morrow from trip in Central and
South American waters. Presum-
ably both Mr.. Brown and Mr.. Jen-
kins will confer with him regarding
this contest, Senator-elect Bricker
was in Washington for a few hours
Friday, and it is believed he was
sounded out on the proposition.
The Ohio delegation and the
friends, of Senator Taft and Mr..
Brickers in the House do not relish
the thought Of having Ohio candi-
dates for the leadership turned
down in favor of a supporter of
other presidential possibilities.
One thing appears certain: II
Mr.. Brown gets into the race the
fur will fly. Tfn Republicans will
be faceds with a decision as to
whether it is better for the Repoby
lican Party. as 1t takes over control
of the House, to launch bitter
feud or to seek complete harmony.
While. they have good working
ma jority iii the new House The
Republicans, nevertheless, VIII need
to work together If they are to get
anywhere in the legislative business
of the House.
Some, of the members are stigS
gesting round-table discussion as
more members of the new House
trickle into Washington.
The leadership will be definitely
settled. however, January 2. A call
for a caucus of House Republicans
to meet at 2:3o pm. that day has
just been sent to them by Chairman
Woodruff of the cailcIlS