Evening star., 1947-10-28
The Political Mil
Nebraska Primary Offers
Real Test Of Sentiment
Ballots to Garry Names Of Lsadins
Potential Presidential Candidates
Bv Gould Lincoln


Potential Presidential Candidates
By Gould Lincoln
The Nebraska presidential preferential pri-
mary on April - next year, is to bs made a
real test OF public sentiment for the osntstand-
ing presidential possibilities" Of both parties,
under plan now taking form. A committee
has been organized-bipartisan ses that
the leading potential presidential nominees
Of both the Republican and Democratic Par
ties are entered in the primary. The chair
man Of this committee is Raymond A. Nc
Connell, jr, editor Of the Lincoln Evening
Journal, and the vice ehairmsn are 1t. Gov.
Robert Crosby Of North Platte and Mrs. Sid.
ney M. Smith Of Omaha.
The theory back Of the plan IL that the
voters in Nebraska should have an oppor-
tunity to vote for the man Of their choice for
presidential nomination-and not Just for
. candidate whose managers decided to enter
out to have the names Of President Truman
and Henry A. Wallace, former Vice President.
placed on the ballot in the Democratic presi-
Dental preferential primary. They are the
only two Democrats who have been seriously
discussed for the nomination. On the Republic
can side, the committee proposes to enter nins
men-Gov. Dewey Of New York, Gen. Eisen.
hover, Speaker Martin, Gen. Macarthur, SEN
ator Saltonstall Of Mass, former Gov. Stassen
OF Minnesota, Senator Taft Of Ohio. Senator
Vandenberg Of Michigan and Gov Warren OF
California.
In order to get their names on the ballots
petitions must be signed by 100 voters in each
of the four congressional districts That should
be q comparatively easy matter. And once
their names are on the ballot, Mr.. Mcconnell
holds, the candidates cannot withdraw them.
New Plan Has Appeal.
Whatever the big-shot politicians may think
Of the idea, this new plan to enter all the
prominently mentioned presidential possible
ties has its appeal. Time and again the voters
In the primaries have been asked to express
q preference when the man OF their own
choice is not on the ballot at all. Under the
law If as many rs 400 voters sign petition
to have q candidates name 90 on the ballot,
1t will appear.
The presidential preferential primary IN
Nebraska is merely a test Of sentiment. 1t Is
not binding upon the Nebraska delegations
sent to the national conventions Of the two
major parties. Presumably, however the dele
gates could vote, at least on the f1rst ballot.
for the candidates who had the backing OF the
Nebraska voters in this test primary. Certainly
II GQe plan lS CA[TleO Out eAleke WAL Ne - . WV
increase of interest in the primary.
Fourteen States have presidential preferen-
tial primaries-although the primaries are not
uniform in character. Some of them are merely
advisory, and q few OF them actually bind the
delegations to vote for the primary winners.
These States and the dates on which the
primaries are to be held next year are Cali
fornia, June /; Illinois, April Is; Maryland,
MAY g. Massachusetts,, April a.; Nebraska.
April IS; New Hampshire, March 8; New Jersey,
June /; New York, April s; Ohio. May 4; Ore
gon, May a. Pennsylvania, April ~; South
Dakota, June i; West Virginia, May II. and
Wisconsin. April Is.
Cross Section Of sentiment.
II In all these States the names OF candi-
dates in both parties, enumerated by the
Nebraska Committee, were placed on the bal
lots. real cross section Of sentiment would be
possible But as things stand today there is
little likelihood Of such test OF personal
strength by the candidates, announced or merely
receptive For example, Senator Taft has made
it clear he does not intend to enter any primary
except that in Ohio Yet he Is one Of the lead
ing candidates for the Republican presidential
nomination. Mr.. Stassen has announced he
will 20 into the Wisconsin primary-one OF the
earliest-and plans are already under way to
enter Gov Dewey and Gen. Macarthur IN thss
primary.
It Is not considered cricket for q Governor
of New York to enter q primary In California
If the Governor of California-or . Senator OF
that state-is a favorite-son candidate. Prob
ably it would not be considered politically wise.
either-since the Governor OF California, In his
own State should be able to clean UP any other
candidate for the presidential nomination whs
presented himself to the California electorate
in the primary.
These primaries have been used in the past,
by political managers who believed their candi-
dates would make good showings, for the psy-
Geological effect on political leaders in other
States. 1t looks as though the Nebrsskans
really have something If they can pull 1t of.