Evening star., 1946-07-15

Ilhft = IIldll Will iliN lcoln tIblAi'1h
record of Senator Butler successful
In Nebraska as it was gratifying to
have Senator Shipstead. the aging
snd irreconcilable Minnesota tsola-
zionist, beaten in that State. But
II is q mistake to attach too much
national significance to either. 1so-
lationism as represented by the
Shipsteads, Buffers and Nyes IS a
dead doctrine in this country Both
parties are fully pledged to inter
national cooperation and committed
to the United Nations.
With few exceptions the press,
regardless of party, IS overWhelm-
ingly behind our present foreign
policy. So are the people. The in
dividual isolationists in public lie
again with a few EXCEPTIONS either
have changed their position (lke
Senator Vandenberg, for example
or are about to drop off the political
vine. In both Nebraska and Mime
sofa. the best political judgment is
that the voters in neither State
we're greatly stirred by the issue OF
internationalism versus isolatlonlsm.
In both local influences and in
terests were paramount, Mr.. SfaSSen
proved very strong in his own State,
but had no strength at all in Ne
hraska - anyhow not enough to
count.
Thve Victory Certain.
In Minnesota it seems true that
Gov. Thve could have beaten any
one else lust As easily as he did MI
Shipstead-even though his op-
ponent had been as internationally
co-operative as Mr.. StasSen himself.
Besides being an attractive candl-
date personally. and with the sup
port OF Mr.. StasSen. conCededly the
outstanding figure in the State. Gov
Tive had behind him the strong
Stassen machine the States most
influential and largest newspapers
and, bv long ODDS, the most money.
That combination is enough to Win
In any primary anywhere, any time.
With all that. the reported nervous
ness of the Stassen supporters IS
hard to understand.
And certainly the cries that the
result was great triumph for lib
eralism" were a little too loud. The
truth is that some of Mr.. StaSsen's
friends are worried about this lib
eralisln'' publicity and wish he
would find it possible sometime,
somewhere TO make a speech or
statement without dwelling upon the
necessity of "liberalizing" the Re-
publican party and stressing his
championship of progressive prin-
ciples." This desire is not in the
least because they are personally
reactionary or opposed to progress.
It IS because they are extremely
anxious to have Mr.. Stassen nomi-
mated and do not believe he is 60
ing about it in the right way.
Must Consider Convention.
First. they point out that the
presidential nomination Is made in
convention by the politicians and
not by the people in primaries;
second. that in the 1943 convention
no one will be nominated in the
first few ballots and in the end a
combination has got to be formed
to get a majority There is no such
thing as sweeping convention off
it's feet. AS these friends now see
It. Mr. StaSsen is making it more
difficult for him to form such a
combination in two WayS-1 by
ignoring the organization politicians
In the various States instead of
seeking friendly relations with
them; (2l by creating resentment
among the other nomination as
pirants by proclainling himself the
shining champion of liberalism
and progressive principles" thus
conveying the idea that all others
are moss-backed members of the
old Guard" reactionary tools OF
the interests. the Tory type
1t is further pointed out that
Journalistic gentlemen who in
magazines and newspapers, portray
Mr.. StasSen as the one true lib
eral' in the Republican party are
almost all of the New Deal per-
SudSloi anu dppiuNt Ni. oldSSeI
largely because of their belief that
at heart he is a New Dealer. This
It is argued, is exactly what neither
the Republican party nor the coun-
try Uants-and, in particular, they
do not want an imitation New
Dealer. The Stassen appeal. they
say. to the literary, theatrical and
artistic advanced thinkers" is nc
way to win the Republican nomina-
ton, and Mr.. Stassen ought to be
practical enough to know it.
In addition. it is contended, the
word liberal in recent years has
been so pre- -empted BY the radica'