Evening star., 1947-05-13

Il SN1lsN.ss - ND0uIAS1i0Ss
Attended Gridiron Dinner
Warren Makes Good Impression
A. Others of Big Six Listen
By GosId Lincols
Thirteen months before the national conven-
lions of the Republican and Democratic Parties
are due to convene. all Of the probable con-
tenders for the 1sls presidential and vice.
presidential nominations were gathered here
last week end under zone tops-the Statler
Hotel where the Gridiron Club was holding It's
annual spring dinner.
Only two of them. however, made speeches
which under the rules Of the club are not
reported President Truman and Gov. Earl
Warren of California. II Is within the bounds
to say that both made favorable impressions.
At the dinner also were Gov. Dewey Of New
York. Senators Taft and Bricker Of Ohio, Sena-
tor Vandenberg Of Michigan. former Gov.
Stassen Of Minnesota, who with Gov. Warren
made up the so-called Big Six" in the Republi-
can presidential picture.
There was peculiar interest ID the Governor
Of California. An Of the leaders in many walks
Of life attending the dinner had heard Of Mr..
Warren but many Of them had never seen him
or heard him speak. It Is still his contention
he IS not candidate for the Republican presi-
dential nominatp he has never said, how
ever. he would not accept the nomination If It
came his way next June. At Chicago in 1914
he could have had the vice. presidential nominal
tion, but as one Of the Gridiron songs described
1t: He tipped his hat and slowly road away"
wisconsin Challenge.
The Gridiron dinners are not partisan and
are not political gatherings-bu plenty Of
politics was talked here over the week end.
incidentally. 1t developed that Mr.. Stassen Is
going to challenge Gov. Dewey In big way
for the Wisconsin delegates to the national
convention provided. Of course, that Gov.
Dewey becomes an announced candidate and
his friends put up q slate Of Dewey delegates
In the Badger State. The primary there. which
comes very early. If Messrs Stassen and Dewey
lock horns, should prove Of great interest. II
Mr.. Stassen can win majority Of the delegates
lin State which has been strong for Gov.
Dewey In Republican primaries In the past
1t would give the Minnesotan great impetus
In his search for the presidential nomination.
At the same time, 1t might be a real check for
the Dewey bandwagon movement-which even
now Is getting started. On the other hand
Dewey victory In Wisconsin, Of major propor-
tions would virtually seal the death warrant
Of Stassen aspirations to head the Republican
ticket.
Mr.. stassen, It appears, will have strong
support In Wisconsin. Senator "Joe" Mccarthy
Of Wisconsin has let it be known that he will
head the campaign there for Stassep delegates.
Also tom" Coleman, chairman Of the Repub-
lican State Voluntary Committee-the organi-
zation-is lining up for Stassen.
While the former Minnesota Governor win
continue an active candidate for President,
he has said In reply to q question he would
consider = vice-presidential nomination II he
failed to win first place, provided it wers
offered him and provided the presidential
nominee and the party platform were to his
liking. Mr.. Stassen, progressive, with q fine
record as an executive, would make good
running mate for any presidential nominee.
II, for example, Gov. Dewey should win the
presidential nomination. Dewey-Stassen
ticket would be tough one for the Democrats
to beat.
Dewey Seen Out In Front afa
The consensus Of politicians and observers
here for the Gridiron dinner was that the
New York Governor appears now to be out in
front. This does not mean. however. that the
campaigns for other potential candidates will
not be pressed vigorously, including those for
N0cSSES. 4a1G AlQ 6tASScI, AUQ WdlISu peILhp6.
New York, with its big electoral VOTE Is re-
garded as necessary to Republican national
victory. The argument advanced Is that no
other Republican would have as good q chance
to win in the Empire State as Gov. Dewey.
Ohioans are not backing down bit on the
Taft-for- President drive. They expect the
senior Ohio Senator to come out of the present
session of Congress with increased prestige
nationally. They point out that for 40 years
the name OF Taft has been nationally and
favoratly known-for it was in 1908 that the
late William Howard Taft, father OF the Sena-
tor was nominated and elected President.
. Friends Of James A. Farley, former Demo-
cratic national chairman and Postmaster
General, are suggesting it would be an excel
lent idea to place Mr.. Farley, q New Yorker.
on the ticket as . vice presidential candidate
to run with Mr.. Truman next year. II that
were done, however, 1t would mean that the
Democrats had decided to take back the party
and forget some Of Its radical supporters Of
recent years.
There viii be plenty Of Democrats seeking
the vice-presidential nomination next year
and quite q race If Mr. Truman adopts Q
hands-of attitude-which he probably won't.
Questions and Answers
Of fact 81 xrsins W The M Esenns star 1nfor%sson
Bureau. 316 I street NE. washington 2, .. C.
Please inclose three f3) cents for return postage
q. Can any one besides the President sign
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