Evening star., 1947-07-10
The Political Mill
Toft's Western Invasion
To Start in September
Presidential Candidates Must Begin
Campaigning in Earnest Soon

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Presidential Candidates Must Begin
Campaigning in Earnest Soon
By Gould Lincoln
Gov. Dewey of New York Is not the only
aspirant for the Republican presidential nom-
nation of 1s48 who this summer and fall will
travel into the West-looking for delegates.
Senator Taft of Ohio is planning trip to
California in September. Like Mr.. Dewey, the
Ohio Senator Is not at present labelling his
Western invasion political" But, like Mr.
Dewey. he doesn't have to. 1t Will be done
for him.
The Ohio Senator, like Gov. Dewey. has
made no open announcement of his candloacy
for the presidential nomination. All he has
said publicly up to date Is that he Will give
all his attention to the work Of the Repuollcan
Compassionate the present session mas ad-
journed. This leaves him free to make an
announcement, declaring himself canoloate
for President, later in the year, II he sees Mt.
Mr.. Tafts present plans call for rest at
Murray Bay, Canada, when Congress quits
He is entitled to 1t, for no member OF rthe
Eightieth Congress has worked naroer or
longer hours than Mr.. Taft or more ehectVely.
AS chairman of the Senate Labor Committee
he succeeded in having written into law
despite President Truman's veto-the first
remedial labor legislation since the New Deal
ers put through their lopsided Wagner LABOR
Relations Act in 1885. Further, Mr. TAFT mas
borne the burden of Republican leadership IN
the Senate on domestic issues generally
speaking He is chairman of the Republican
Policy--or Steering-Committee.
No Stops on Way West.
He will go to California soon after Labor
Day. and will address the California Bar
Association September Is and the Common
wealth Club of San Francisco September ~,
spending week In the State He plans no
stops on the way West, but Senator Taft admits
he may decide to break his journey East. In
his addresses in California. Mr.. Taft will speak
Of the record made by the Republicans IN the
present Congress. What he will do when ne
talks to Republican leaders privately Is an
other matter. But presumably he will do
bit of campaigning Gov. Dewey has
been doing on his way to attend the Gov
ernors' Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The truth of the matter is that the national
political campaign is just around the corner, and
candidates who really want to get into the
presidential race have got to start running IN
earnest. Former Gov Stassen Of Minnesota Is
the only announced candidate for the Repub-
lican nomination-and he has been working at
it for many months Mr.. Dewey is the second
presidential possibility to take to the trails.
He has stuck by his job in New York pretty
closely-just as Mr.. Taft has stuck to the
Senate.
The Taft people declare themselves not too
impressed by the glowing reports Of Gov.
DeWeys progress across the country. For ex-
ample, they say that Republican National
Committeeman Mattingly of Missouri, who de-
clared after talk with Mr.. Dewey that the
New York Governor would have at least 40
votes on the first ballot from the West and
Middle West, and would be nominated. has
been Dewey supporter for long time.
Much Spade Work Done.
good deal of spade work has already been
done for both Gov. Dewey and Senator Taft.
It was necessary to get things started
even before the candidates took to the political
trails. Senator Bricker Of Ohio obligingly
stepped aside last winter to give Senator TAFT
the right of way, and the whole thing was
ironed out at a meeting at Mr. Tafts house here
last March. The Ohio Republicans said fatty
they must know as early possible which was
to be the Ohio candidate. so they could raise
money and go to work outside the State.
Almost simultaneously John L. Lewis, presi-
dent of the United Mine Workers, declared his
undying opposition to Senator Taft for Presi-
dent and Col. Robert Mccormick publisher OF
the Chicago Tribune, through an editorial in
his newspaper, gave support to Senator Taft
as the only man who measures up to the Job
of President-asde from Gen. Douglas Mac
Arthur Col. McCormick's editorial said that
Senator Taft could run on his record and that
of the Republican Congress. 1t attacked Gov.
Dewey as IAN ambitious little man." and
criticized Mr.. Stassen and Senator Vandenberg
OF Michigan, chairman of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee, because they have been
internationally minded. Mr. Lewis, who sup
ported Gov. Dewey against Roosevelt in the 1914
race also attacked the Republican Party,
claiming 1t had "sold out" to big interests for
big campaign funds in the congressional CAM
pagn of 1916.
Col. McCormicks pat on the back for Mr.
Taft may help him in the Midwest, but not In
other sections of the country. Mr.. Lewis
diatribe against Mr.. Taft was to be expected,
because of his authorship Of the tax bill. 1t
may help the Ohio Senator, however. IN
quarters other than organized labor.
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