Evening star., 1947-07-29
The Political Mill
Michigan Has z Chances
ToBe Nominee Mother
Native Sons Vandenbers and Dewey
Choices for 41.Delesate Vote

Native Sons Vandenbers and Dewey
Choices for 4l.Delesate Vote
By Gould Lincoln
GRAND RAPIDS. Mich, July 2o-Michigan
today has, of all the States, the best chance
to be the mother" Of the 1s4s Republican
nominee for President of the United States
She has two strings to her political bow-two
native sons, either one of whom may bring
home the bacon from the Republican National
Convention next June. Gov. Thomas E. Dewey
of New York and Senator Arthur H. Vanden-
berg Of Michigan. AS of today the New York
Governor Is the man the rest OF the candi-
dates, announced and unannounced, must
stop" In sense, 1t is Dewey against the field.
If the New Yorker does not win the nomina-
ton after three ballots have been taken-and
there Is evidence Of a deadlock-Senator VAN
denberg towers as q likely choice.
Here in Grand Rapids where Mr.. Vanden-
berg was born, grew up and made an outstand-
ing success in the newspaper business there
are plenty of people who remember prophesies
such as: Keep your eye on that young man;
he'll be President one fine day" And here in
Grand Rapids-and throughout the State
Senator Vandenberg Is the first choice for
President of thousands Of Republicans, not to
mention quite few Democrats. They regard
him entirely as q local product As for Gov.
Dewey who was born In Owosso and whose
home was there until he went to college and
then to New York for his adult career In law
and public ofnce, they look on the New York
Governor with pride, but not quite as
Mchigander.
Al Delegate Votes.
One thing seems as certain as anything can
in politics. however, and that Is, II 1t appears
that Senator Vandenberg Is definitely not going
to be the Republican nominee the Michigan
delegation to the national convention will shift
to Gov. Dewey. II and when that shift comes
a,matter Of II delegate votes-it may well mark
the triumphant march Of Gov. Dewey to the
nomination. For next to Senator Vandenberg,
Gov. Dewey appears to be the choice Of the
Michigan Republicans. Senator Taft has some
friends here, and so has Mr.. Stassen, but the
New York Governor-out Of Michigan-has
more appeal.
Republican leaders and political observers ir
this State predict that Michigan will send
"Vandenberg delegation" to the Republican
National Convention, despite the repeated de-
mails OF the Senator that he is in any way
candidate for the presidential nomination
Some of them don't believe him. The rest be-
ueve that it Is a good gamble that the con-
possible to put over the totally available Sena-
tor neutrality-suspicious. because Of his quail
hcations for the office of Chief Executive and
available because notwithstanding his state
ments, written or oral, that he is not seeking
presidential nomination. he has never said he
would decline the nomination. Half Of the peo-
pie with whom have discussed Vandenberg's
situation insist he is entirely sincere: that he
does not want a presidential nomination. And
the other half say he has left the way wide
open for draft" and would welcome nomi-
nation even If he will not make preconvention
campaign for one.
Truman Stock Shows Rise.
Michigan today would in all probability vote
for Republican presidential candidate-esre-
cially should he be either Senator Vandenberg
or Gov Dewey 1t Is true, however, that Pres-
dent Truman has gained personal popularity
in the State in recent months. A year ago his
stock was low and on the toboggan. Since then
as in other parts of the country, the President
by his firm handling Of John l.. Lewis and by
his strong efforts to erect firm American for
eign policy, has won favor in this State His
veto of the Taft-Hartley labor bill-now a law
saved his bacon so far as the large organized
labor vote Is concerned. His veto OF the tax
reduction bill, while unpopular with many, did
not have the unfavorable impact in Michigan
1t had in some OF the other States-for the
reason that this year Michigan adopted the
community property" system, by State law.
which enables husbands and wives to divide
the family income between them for the pur-
pose Of paying income taxes This will result
in materially reducing the income tax payments
Of great many families in the State.
keen Democratic leader here insists that
Henry Wallace, If he becomes candidate for
the Democratic presidential nomination. will
not be able to prevent Truman delegation
from Michigan. He admitted that in some
Of the industrial centers-notably Detroit-Mr
Wallace had strong support among the C1O
members. He admitted, too, that If Mr.. Wal
lace should go along with the draft Wallace"
drive which Bob" Kenny has launched in Cali
fornia, there might be an ugly fight between
the Wallace and Truman adherents in this
State. Mr. Truman would win out, he predicted
He insisted that the attacks which Mr.. Wallace
and his supporters have in recent weeks leveled
against President Truman have in reality aided
the President. In the end, he insisted, Mr.. Wal
lace's appeasement program toward Soviet Rus
sia would react badly against him.
@-a.- - A.~..~.s