Evening star., 1947-05-17
The Political Mil
Stossen Out to Force
Fight for Nomination
Plans 10 Challenge Gov. Dewey
In Early State Primaries

= - - asr N AAsAsS - AsSss
Plans to CHALLENGE Gov. Dewey
In Early State Primaries
By Gould Lincoln
Harold =. stassen, former Governor of
Minnesota and the first man to throw his hat
In the ring for the Republican presidential
nomination Of ls4s, Is going to force the fieht-
ing for that nomination. Addressing meeting
Of the Republican state Central COMMITTEES Of
Minnesota yesterday. in St. Paul. Mr.. 6tassen
said that the time had come for him and his
friends to slightly increase cur own campaisn
program within the Republican Party" His
big effort. he made clear, win come when the
campaigns for the election Of delegates to the
Republican National Convention get under
way. next spring. he Is planning to challenge
Gov. Dewey of New York, Senator Taft Of
Ohio and any other candidates who enter
these primaries.
The former Minnesota Governor frankly ad-
mitted that he faced an uphill task, and d
ditncult one. Efforts are being made and win
be made, he said, ito stampede an early deci-
sion BY the Republican organizations over the
country" While he did not use Mr. Dewey's
name, II IS well understood he was referring
to the constantly growing Dewey drive to prove
that the nomination Of the New Yorker is
inevitable. Mr.. stassen expressed his con-
ndence the stampede to Mr.. Dewey viii not
nnateriali1e and that the Republican orsaniza-
items and party leaders in many States win
await the results Of the primaries and stats ],
conventions before jumping on anyone's band-
wagon. He is going to measure swords with
Gov. Dewey in Wisconsin-one OF the earliest
primaries provided Gov. Dewey enters there.
He may enter the presidential preferential
primary In New Hampshire, which comes nrst
of al, Mr.. stassen has material strength In
New England.
Delegate Lineup Seen.
AS the Stassen forces see the picture today,
Gov. Dewey will enter the National Convention
with about 800 pledged delegates, Senator Taft
Of Ohio with approximately 200, and stassen
with some 12o. The rest will be split among
favorite-son candidates. Pennsylvania's big
delegation, for example, for Senator Martin
Of that State, and Illinois delegation for Gov.
and II Mr.. StAssen Is able to make strong
showing in the primary States. when the con-
vention meets, the Minnesotan may have Z
much larger delegate strength
The Stassen program includes q campaign
to get over to the great mass of voters what
basic views on the great problems Of the day J
are held by Mr.. Stassen and his followers, both
domestic and foreign problems He believes
that majority Of the Republicans support
those basic views and that they are particularly
supported by "the veterans OF the war" (dr.
stassen himself is q war veteran, having served
with distinction in the Navy. by alert young
people, by thoughtful women by the farmers
Of the West and Middle West, by the sound
elements OF labor and OF the metropolitan
areas, and by small business and professional
men," These are the groups to which he Is
making special appeal.
Mr.. Stassen will be much in washington
during the remainder Of the present session Of
Congress, watching the course Of the Republic
can majorities In both houses. On one Of the
most pressing questions labor lesislation--he
is in favor OF remedial legislation. He is UNDER
stood, however, to have told Republican mem
bers Of the House that he was in opposition to I
some features Of the Hartley bill and that he
would have voted against 1t had he been. like
them, a member OF the House.
Urges Frank Discussions. sati
It is Mr.. Stassen's contention that the issues
Of the day should be frankly and fully dis
cussed by the candidates for the presidential .
nomination and he will insist, as far as he is
able, in getting them to declare how they stand
on these issues. Speaking of his own CAM
Ph4Gu, ue SdlO. Ol uaJOI QueStlOlls our
specific views this and his supporters) will be
openly presented to the people. This we will !
do In constructive manner, being careful not
to split or divide the Republican Party as TO
interfere with final victory in November. ie4S."4
While he will not make personal attacks or
indulge in personalities in his drive for the
nomination, he will not temporize on issues"
While Mr.. stassen is girding for the pre-
nomination campaign-which Is already on
he does not close his eyes to the fact that
other candidates-though still undeclared--are
also on the march. In fact, he commented
that direct campaign activity within the Re-
publican Party is beginning at every hand. Il
Supporters Of Gov. Dewey for the presi- /.
dental nomination are confident that Mr..
Dewey, when he believes the time Is right, will
step boldly forward. There will be none Off
the effort to side-step outright candidacy
which Mr.. Dewey INDUCED in in 1944-wfens
in fact, he did not wish at all to be candi-
date and the presidential nominee. Indeed,
there is talk now OF an extended speaking
campaign by the New York Governor, to the
Middle West and West sometime during tho
summer or early fall. He has received many
invitations to speak. -
Questions and Answers