The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1946-07-19
News 6
Behind,
THEfNE4s@ES$E!1
RsIeased By western Newspaper unlo
SENATOR TAFT ASSUMING
REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP
By Paul ALLoN y

VhsoAlAlN0lON Den, nod
ert Taft assumed runaway .Repub-
lican congressional leadership the
later days Of the session. II was
his OPA bill which passed the sem
ate; his fight held up President
Humans draft-strikers plan and
somewhat modified the Case bill.
The appointment of Carroll Reece
as party chairman left him smiling
and happy. Action on the firing line
has given him the domestic leader
ship, no matter how the positions
are distributed nominally. But too
many positions remain to be taken
to mark him more than a leading
candidate for '48 now.
Behind him the primaries
have brought up Republican
Governor Warren, who assured
his election by winning both
tickets easily in California. War
rem seems likely to get the
largest proportion Of the Pacific
states to the next convention.
He has taken no stand on inter.
national questions known wide
ly; has espoused social security
bills In the legislature; and Is as
free as Taft is committed. But
mark him no more than a likely
compromise yet.
The Nebraska primary hurt Min
nesota's Ex-Governor Stassen, who
will have another chance in his
backing of nominee (ex-Gov-
ernor Thye, strong vote-getter)
against Senator Shipstead, in July.
To say Nebraska represented an
isolationist victory would be to as
sumo too much. The largest paper
in that state has been attempting
to prove isolationism had little to
do with it. However that may be,
both internationalism and isolation
ism seem dead in the East and Gen.
trail states. Greater events are con-
trolling our actions and destiny.
Russia is the only truly isolationist
nation still left.
BRICKER ALSO POSSIBILITY
Ohio's Ex-Governor Bricker is ex-
pected to be elected to the senate,
which will place him in line for the
Republican nomination on what will
be charged to be a conservative
ticket. However, I suspect he and
Taft have friendly working agree
ment, or could get one, so neither
would step on the others toes. Con-
sequently Ohio will present either
Taft or Bricker, whose record as
senator will largely determine his
future.
Quieter than all the rest has
been New YOrk's Governor
Dewey. He says he is not likely
to be chosen, and too many Re-
publicans believe him at this
writing. He has not functiOned
as leader Of his party since his
defeat for the presidency. Sena-
tor Vandenberg leads Republi-
cans internationally, as strong
ly as Taft dOmestically Che was
ren0minated In Michigan).
1t is idle to talk Of '48 then. What
Is at hand is a congressional cleo
ton in November, and in this, il
appears refreshened Republican
leadership is rising to the top, both
out Of the primaries and congress
sional steps.
The primaries are In for near
ly all the big states (Pennsyl-
vania, Michigan, Ohio, Calif0r-
MAJ and I recall only Indiana's
Republican Senator Willis being
defeated for denomination, and
exceptionally few house men,
bers. Willis got himself into q
fight with his state organization,
and, as the convention out there
was not controlled by him, he
had to 60 back to news editing,
which may be a relief. But the
significant thing Is this: prac-
tically all Of congress was re-
nominated.
OF course you must say organi-
cations largely control primaries
and conventions, and the Gins" are
usually the organization, whatever
it is. Yet in few previous years Of
my time have primaries meant 50
little.
SAME OLD REvOLUTIONISTs
There are some of our people,
not many, who believed the old line
that the Russians are somehow diff
ferent than their government. They
are not. They have no chance 70
be different. They live under one
man rule, under censorship. dicta-
torship, seh-concealment and pub
lie attack. Whatever beliefs their