Evening star., 1947-08-28
The Political Mil
COP. Leaders Feor Taft
Cont 'Churm' the People
Need of Candidates to Beguile Voters
BEGAN With Roosevelt
Bv Gould Lincoln

Senator Robert A. Taft of Ohio Is about to
put to the test his ability to stump the country
as presidential candidate. In seven West
ern States, California, Nevada, Washington
Oregon, Idaho, wyoming and Nebraska MFR,
Taft Is scheduled to speak-and to hold con-
ferences with Republican Party leaders
From the Middle West and West CONS
reports that the interest In Mr.. Taft Is on
the increase; that party leaders are friendly
to the Ohioan. But along with these more
pleasant aspects of the Taft boom comes the
suggestion from similar quarters that it would
not be possible to elect Mr.. Taft President in
l94S Strangely enough. this fear is not ex-
pressed on the ground that he is co-author Of
the Taft-Hartley labor law against which
C1O and AFb leaders have declared bitter war
Ihese doubling Thomases say Mr. Taft hasn't
"charm; that he hasn't svelte Roosevelt
voice, either on the radio or in plain ordinary
conversation. They admit he knows about
government, that he has courage, that he
speaks oat ard that he Is great worker. -
But, they say, he hasn't Charm"
Began With Roosevelt. >-r-.
Until the late Franklin D. Roosevelt entered
the White House, no one spoke about the
necessity OF charm in Chief Executive of
the United States, or the need of candidates to
charm' the voters. AS matter of fact. Mr..
RooseVelts first election In 1882 was NOT
chalkeo up to charm" but rather to the violent
leellng of the people because of the great
depression. They were willing to gamble foI
change-no matter whom the Democrats
might have nominated But in Mr. Rooseve,t,..
next three election campaigns there was nlentv
OF talk about his ability to charm the people.
to win them with his voice
And so it has become common practice n
eValuate presidential candidates on he "chorr,,,
standard. A first voter in 1882, If he were itst
Il when he cast his presidential vote. Will ba
81 years old on election day in le48. It Ia
easy TO understand, therefore, that a great
number OF voters In this country do not ren1em-
Der any other successful presidential candidate
besides Mr.. Roosevelt. Mr. Truman, President
To-Day, was not elected to that office In 1914.
out merely ran along on the Roosevelt coat
tails.
There have been other greater speakers
some OF them orators-who were candidates for
the presidential office, and some of them were
elected-as for example, the late Woodrow
wilson. William Jennings Bryan capti-
waiting speaker was repeatedly a Democratic
presidential nominee, but he never made the
grade and was defeated by more drab person.
alities. But none of them could rival Franklin
D. Roosevelt in the matter of Charm"
Dewey Closer to Standard.
So the question now arises are the Repub-
leans In their present quest for presidential
nominee, to be guided In whole or In part by
the candidates degree of Charm" Mr.. Taft
does not have it-sincere and honest as he is
Gov. Dewey of New York comes closer to the
standard, for he has an excellent and express
sive voice-and he has certain glamour grow
ing out OF his old racket-busting days, when he
was district attorney In New York. But
enemies of Mr. Dewey say. he is cold propo-
sition-and therefore lacks Charm"
OF all those Republicans whose names have
been mentioned as presidential possibilities, the
man who more nearly approaches the Roose-
welt glamour" charm" call It what you will.
Is Gen. Douglas Macarthur. He has the per-
sonality, the voice. the ability to say things
tellingly, and he has the Imagination Of the
people as great military leader and executive.
Next to him in appeal, probably Is Gen. Dwight
D. Eisenhower.
The Democrats, next year, are not going
to worry about the question Of charm In a
presidential canddate-that is the Roosevelt
brand-they are going to nominate President
Truman, who admittedly doesn't have 1t. Mr..
Truman is building up reputation as sim
cere. plain-spoken, and courageous American.
But If he wins, 1t won't be because of his
ability to charm" any one with his speaking
voice. ..-... .,.