Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-12-16
The Political Mill
Gridiron Dinner Called
Political Circus Bio TOP

FoHtIcol NIrcuS Big Top
Presidential Aspirants All on Hand,
Eisenhower Gets Biggest Laugh
By Gould Lincoln
The big top Of the political circus over the
last week end was the annual winter dinner Of
the Gridiron Club In addition to President
Observation-Disclosures for the democratic
presidential nomination Of 1s4S-nearly all Of
the Republican aspirants for the COP NOM
nation and nearly all the Democrats who are
hoping to be named as Humans running mate
were present Messrs. Dewey and Taft and
Stassen and Vandenberg, representative Of the
first fight OF Republican presidential possible
ties were on hand. Secretary Of Commerce
Hartman, Senator OMahoney OF Wyoming
and Senator Mcmahon Of Connecticut, guests
at the dinner have all been mentioned for
vice presidential nomination. And 20 was
Secretary Of National Defense Forrestal, who
recently undertook to remove himself from
consideration for such q nomination.
Two men, one . Republican, and the other
Democrat, entered the field 81 active dis
cussion for places on the national tickets 81
their respective parties-Speaker Joe" Martin
OF Massachusetts, and former Postmaster Gen.
eral James A. Farley-as a result Of the recep-
ton given them. Speaker Martin, who since
the law Of succession to the presidential
office has been rewritten stands next In line
to President Truman, was the Opposition"
speaker at the dinner. The President was
the only other speaker-the dinner closing
after he had been heard. Under the ira
ditional rules Of the Gridiron Club reporters
are never present" and the Martin and Truman
speeches were "off the record" It Is per-
Missile to say however. that Speaker Martins
address was in such good taste and good humor
with here and there bit Of political spice, that
his name was on the lips Of many of the
distinguished guests when the dinner was over
Farley Back In Picture.
Big Jim" Farley, who insists he Is out Of
politics, was accorded real ovation when he
was introduced. Now, Mr.. Farley is New
Yorker, accounted one of the shrewdest
political leaders of a long line Of shrewd
politicians the Empire State has produced. If
the Democratic Party Is really going to break
with the radical American Labor Party (Which
dislikes Farley intensely, Mr.. Farley would
give strength to the partys national ticket in
New York next year-for he is widely popular
and he would be a tower of strength when 1t
comes to organizing the campaign. Mr.. Farley
broke with President Roosevelt when the latter
sought third term in 1910. He has recently
declared himself heart and soul for the re-
election Of Mr.. Truman. New York may turn
out to be one OF the most difficult States for
Mr.. Truman to ENTHUSIASTICALLY should Gov
Dewey be the Republican presidential nominee
and New Yorker Of Farleys stature and
following would be an asset to the Democratic
ticket
Mr.. Farley, like the late Al Smith, is a Catho-
lie. Religious prejudice in 1913. it Is claimed,
will show far less than in 1928, when AL Smith
made his losing try for the presidency. It will
be remembered also that, when in 1910, Prest-
dent Roosevelt was still keeping secret his in
tention Of seeking a third term nomination,
MIR. Farley was leading candidate for q vice
presidential nomination, with former Secretary
Cordeu Hull as the presidential candidate
Further, after the terrible drubbing which the
Democrats OF New York took in the l946 cleo
ton. the party might be very, very glad to
have Mr.. Farley back in the picture IN . big
way.
Martin Well Known.
Speaker Martin, who has host Of friends IN
all parts Of the country, does not spring un-
known into the presidential limelight. He has
been one Of these possibilities" frequently
mentioned as probable nominee for President
should the Republican National Convention,
next June, tie itself in bow knots over Messrs.
Dewey, Taft, Stassen and Warren. He has
made dozens of speeches in recent weeks IN
many States-and indeed, has shown many Of
the earmarks Of presidential candidate. II
he were nominated to head the ticket, he would
be as representative of the present Republican
Congress as would Senator Taft
The Bay State has three outstanding Re-
publicans-Speaker Martin and Senators Sal
tonstall and Lodge. All of them have been
mentioned for places on the Republican ma
tional ticket next year. either first place or
second. Henry Cabot Lodge, jr., one Of the
most attractive of the younger figures in the
national political picture, is 50 far standing
aside Martin and Saltonstall will have to
come to a decision which is to be Massachu-
sets fair-haired boy next year.
Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, who says he is
not candidate but has been described as a
gentleman who doth protest too much" was
not present at the dinner. However, ne got
the biggest hand-and the biggest laugh Of
them all, when a member of the club, imper-
sonating Eisenhower, sang:
Sweet COP whispers to me
Asking me what will do"
and wound up singing in paraphrase: