Evening star., 1947-12-26
F1oIIyTICuRIICV
AsDemocratic
Running Mate
Choice May Depend
On 0. P. Nominee
For President
BY the As,oeiofsd Press

President Truman may wait until
after the Republicans choose their
presidential candidate next summer
before he picks his running mate
on the 1948 Democratic ticket.
Democratic politicians in a posi-
ton to know what is being dis
cussed at the White House said
Mr.. Truman is looking over a large
field but will not make his views
on the No. man known until he
sizes up the COP nominee.
The President will have time for
q last-minute decision of this sort
because the fourth of July holiday
intervenes between the Republican
convention, which begins June 81
in Philadelphia and the Democratic
meeting in the same setting start
ing July IL.
At this point, more than six
months in advance of any decision
the President may make-which is
likely to be the deciding factor
Democrats are discussing a round
dozen possible candidates.
Mccormack Is Possibility.
These include a scattering of Sen
ators, at least one representative, a
couple of cabinet members, Su-
preme Court justice and just about
everybody who has raised his head
among the common level of the
Democratic Party in the last few
years.
The House member, Representa-
tive Mccormack of Massachusetts,,
stands out in early speculation
largely because most Democrats
think that the Republicans will go
East, possibly to Gov. Dewey of New
York or House Speaker Martin, for
. presidential nominee.
The theory among those who
have a voice in Democratic Party
affairs is that Mr.. Truman will try
to match with his Vice Presidential
nominee the Republicans choice of
a top man.
Thus, they argue, if the COP
picks Senator Taft, Republican, of
Ohio, for its standard bearer, the
President might well decide that
Senator Lucas, Democrat, Of Illinois,
would be the proper man to help
him make the 1948 campaign.
Might Go for Nimitz.
On the other hand, if the Repub-
licans cast their lot with military
hero-and Gen. Eisenhower and
Gen. Macarthur are mentioned in
this connection-the Democrats
might go for Admiral Nimitz or
somebody in the same mold for their
second man.
Secretary Of Defense Forrestal al
ready has eliminated himself from
the competition on this score, but
at least two other cabinet members
are represented by the Democratic
officials as perfectly willing to run
with Mr.. Truman.
Included in this category is Sec
retary of Commerce Hartman,
whose New York connections largely
are with Wall Street and thus con-
sidered somewhat under par from
political standpoint.
The other cabinet member is Sec
retary of Agriculture Anderson.
But he comes from Sparsely-popu-
lated New Mexico and hence has
little chance in the view Of the
political dopesters, unless Mr.. Tru-
man thinks that November will be
q walk-in.
OF the Supreme Court members,
Justice Douglas is regarded as will
ling, but not too highly favored by
the party organization. Justice
Douglas lists Washington as his
State.
WalIgren Receptive.
Gov. Walgren of Washington, a
fishing companion of the President,
already has said he is in receptive
mood, but the party leaders here
pretty we'll rule him out unless Mr..
Truman puts his decision on a.
wholly personal basis,
There aren't many other Demo-
cratic Governors available outside
OF the solid South except Gov. Lane
of Maryland. And Gov. Lane has a
rival for the honor in Senator 1yd-
ings, Democrat, of Maryland.
In a showdown most party strate-
gists think Senator Tydings can
take the Maryland delegation out
from under Gov. Lanes nose. They
list Senator Tydings as a potent
candidate, if the Republicans goI
even as far West as Ohio for pres
idential nominee.
Senator Tydings also appeals to
the so-called conservative" element
of the party, which already is grum-
bling about Mr.. Truman's relations
with the CIO and other labor ele-
mentS.
O'Mahoney Mentioned.
The Senate has several other po-
tential vice presidential candidates.
Senator O'Mahoney, Democrat,
OF wyoming, Roman Catholic, is
mentioned frequently as a possibil-
tty. as is Senator Mcmahon, Demo-
crat, of Connecticut.
With an Eastern Republican NOM
inee, Senator O'Mahoney might be
appealing for several reasons, Demo-
cratic strategists say. Similarly,
Senator Mcmahon would be pos
sibfe choice If the Republicans 60
as far west as Minnesota to pick
Harold E. Stassen or California to
choose Gov. Earl Warren.
Another Senator, Pepper of Flor
ida, figures outside the ordinary
pale Of Democratic calculations.
Senator Pepper represents posi-
BILE compromise with the Henry A.
Wallace adherents, to keep them
out of the fold Of a third party. But
few regular Democrats can envision
Senator Pepper as their No. 2 man
In 1948.
Sweetheart of School
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