Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-09-16
The Political Mill
HS S"fks&0b VbH
loft Angling for Prize
Of53 California Votes
Bloc Safely in Pocket of Warren, Who
Plays Own Political Game
By Gould LincoIs


So delegates to the Republican National Con-
vention next June is the big prize that Senator
Taft Of Ohio is quietly angling for during his
weeks stay in the State. The Ohio Senator
has no illusions about where this large bloc
Of delegates win 60 on the first ballot. He
knows that they will be safely In the pocket
OF Gov. Earl Warren Of California, the States
favorite son; that In all probability Gov. War
rem will be q candidate for the nomination
himself. But If the California Governor does
not make the grade-and the chances are he
will not-then it viii matter great deal where
the delegates 60 on succeeding ballots. There
will come his chance.
Senator Taft, since his arrival in the State
last Thursday, has had several intimate meet
ings with Gov Warren, opportunities to discuss
Republican prospects, to meet socially and to
become more friendly with the man who
yields 80 much political power on the Pacific
Coast. 1t is all valuable. And the Ohio
Senator has taken pains to make 1t entirely
clear he is seeking in no way to obtain Cali
fornia delegates. This Is political strategy.
In this early state Of the campaign for dele
gates to the national convention 1t is still
battle between the two, to date, leading con-
tenders-Senator Taft and Gov. Dewey OF New
York. AS of today, there are straws which
incline to the belief that Senator TAFT may
wind up closer to Gov. Warren than will be
Gov. Dewey. Back in 1914 Gov. Warren chose
not to run on the partys national ticket with
Gov Dewey which did nothing to encourage
close relationship between the two men. At
the Governors Conference in Salt Lake City
in July, Gov. Warren and Gov Dewey split
badly over the problem of the division Of fields
Of taxation between the States and the Federal
Government And while, on the surface, the
two Governors were entirely friendly there Is
good reason to believe that in q discussion OF
the political situation they got nowhere.
Mr. Warren is playing his own political game.
He is one of the astute politicians OF today.
as he must be since he was able to win both
the Democratic and Republican nominations
for Governor last year. He has not revealed
thing about his 1913 plans, except that he Will
have the California delegation pledged to him
self. He Is already picking personnel Of the
delegation Decidedly he is not showing prefer
ence for any OF the Republican presidential pos
xibilities who are now visiting his State.
Senator Taft or Mr.. Dewey would be de-
lighted to have Gov. Warren as running mate
in the event either one Of them wins the presi-
Dental nomination. In fact, Mr. Warren would.
in all probability, be their irst choice Tor
vice presidential candidate. 1t Is by no means
certain however, that Mr.. Warren would look
with any more favor on a second place nomina-
ton next year than he did in 1944-except ne
might believe that here was real chance Tor
election.
While Senator Taft goes quietly about this
business of building up his own strength, there
are signs that he Is also laying plans for
coalition of favorite-son and other candidates
designed to stop Dewey on the early bal
loting. There are plenty who believe that II the
New Yorker-who had the party's nominee IN
1s44-is unable to 60 across by the third ballot,
he will never be renominated. Senator Taft is
showing signs of friendliness, for example, 10
former Gov stassen of Minnesota, the only an
nounced candidate for the presidential noni-
nation. He is to speak from the same platform
with Mr.. Stassen In Des Moines October 8.
Further, during the panel debate OF the Taft
Hartley labor law before the California Bar
last week Senator Murray Of Montana, Demo-
crat, took a number Of pot shots at both Mr.
stassen and Gov. Dewey. 1t was noticeable that
Senator Taft, in rebuttal, came to the defense
of Mr.. Stassen, but was mum about Gov.
Dewey When Mr.. Taft fingered for day IN
Chicago on his way to the West Coast last
week, he took occasion TO confer with Gov.
Green of Illinois, another favorite-son candi-
date. If Gov. Green has the Illinois delegation,
Al 1t Is expected he will, 1t is vastly important
he hold on to them in the early battle TO block
any bandwason movement for Gov. Dewey.