Evening star., 1947-11-13
Stossen Setting Record
For Courage in Politics
Entry Into Two Early Primaries 10
Either Foolhardy or Wise
The Political Mil
Bv Gould Lincoln

For politicaI courage former Gov Harold H.
Stassen of Minnesota is setting record. First,
he announced his formal candidacy for the Re-
publican presidential nomination more than a
wear before the COP will meet in national
convention to make the nomination. Second,
he has written book (Where Stand'D and
made many addresses putting himself on rec
ord on practically all the important issues OF
the day, foreign and domestic. Third, he has
announced he will enter the New Hampshire
and Wisconsin primaries In search OF delegates
to the Republican National Conventlon-tha
first two such primaries slated for next March
and April In these primaries he Will. 1t Is
expected, take on "the champ"-Gov. Thomas
E. Dewey of New York-although the Cover
nor has said nothing so far about going into
any primaries.
All this may pay off in delegates-none Of
whom, it might be mentioned, have as yet
been elected, although some probably have
already been tapped for the job. Either Mr..
Stassen is very wise as well as courageous-or
else he is foolhardy. The Minnesota Repub-
lican, however, is personally confident he Is
doing the right thing. 1t is obvious that If he
can do we'll in these first two primaries, his
chances for later success will be materially
improved 1t is also obvious that if he fails
will be cooked, very much as was that of the
late Wendell L. Wllkie who entered the Wis
consin primary in 1914 and was showed under.
Holds No Office Now.
Mr.. Stassen is not present holder of public
office. He Is on the outside, looking in. There
has so far been no tremendous uprising for
him, although he has many admirers and sup
porters throughout the country-but very little
IF rvl1a at jS 'oro tjon
he is to have real chance for the presidential
nomination--he must show his vote-getting
ability, and the only way he can do this Is by
having his name presented to the voters. 1t
will be surprising if he does not soon announce
he will also enter the presidential preferential
primaries in Oregon and Nebraska.
For all his courage in presenting his views
on public questions, Senator Taft of Ohio Is
at present holding back from these presidential
primaries. He is going only into the Ohio
primary, relying on his friends TO pick up
large number of delegates for him in nom
primary States-ard even in some of the presi-
Dental primary States of which there are only
IA. 1t may be that the Ohioan will be goaded
into entering some of the primary tests later.
but it's doubtful. In his statement announcing
his candidacy, Mr. Taft pointed out that his
duties in the Senate would prevent his making
an active campaign in anv of these States for
preference and for delegates.
Dewey's Courage Recalled.
Gov. Dewey has plenty of political courage.
He entered primary after primary in 1910 when
he made his first bid for the presidential nomi-
nation. At that time the only elective public
office he had held was district attorney of New
York County. He was known far and wide.
however, as the killer of giant rackets. In
date. He even went so far as to ask his friends
in Wisconsin not to enter delegate slate for
him. Nevertheless, delegates were elected for
him in the Badger State and in many others,
and his nomination that year came as near
being a draft as any other nomination ever
made. Mr.. Dewey is recognized as candidate
for the nomination next year and his sup
porters will go right ahead putting Dewey dele
gates in the field whether he says anything
about going into this or that primary or not.
More and more there is talk of the non1i-
nation of Gen. Dwight Eisenhower for Presi-
dent by the Republicans. Much is said Of the
vote-getting possibilities of the general-al-
though they have never been tested at the
polls. 1t would be q healthy thing If some of
his supporters placed the generals name in
some of these presidential primaries, with or
without his consent. That's the kind of poll
that counts--the kind at which delegates are
picked. Gen. Eisenhower at present has his
hands tied. He is still Chief of Staff of the
Army. Outside of his military career, very
little Is known about his views on public service
and the questions of the day.
But, in the belief that Eisenhower is becoming
more and more a receptive candidate, new
Eisenhower for President League has opened
headquarters in New York-incorporatng the
earlier league which was launched weeks ago
in Washington, D. C. 1t remains to be seen
whether his friends are willing to put Eisen-
hover to the primary test, or whether they
hope to play it as the supporters of Wendell
L. Willkie did in 1940-with convention stam-
pede we'll organized.