Evening star., 1947-04-26
&C. 2 Convention Site
Hurts | Tofts' Chunces

TUFTS tuIlS finances
Philadelphia Selection Forced BY
Foes Of Col. cCormick
By Jay g. Hayden
The overwhelming selection Of Phila-
delphia rather than Chicago for next
years Republican National Convention
was prompted mainly by 3 Dewey
Vandenberg-Stassen determination not
to select the city where Col. Robert r.
McCormick's Chicago Tribune Is pub
Hshed.
Because Of his espousal of the Greek
Turkish aid proposal, vandepberg re-
Gently was nkened by the Tribune to
Benedict Arnold, and that paper has
condemned Just as bitterly the inter-
national views Of both Dewey and
Stassen.
Wherefore 1t happened that when .
convention site committee, appointed by
National Chairman Carroll Reece and
reputedly loaded with supporters Of
Robert A. Taft for presidential nom
nation. reported in favor Of Chicago,
the National Committee voted n to 26
to substitute Philadelphia.
It is true that Philadelphia had
sugared its bid with a check In hand
for 100000, whereas Chicago offered
to pay only the expenses of the con-
vention up to $135 900, with no cash
IN advance. But the Republican Party.
unlike its Democratic rival, has tra-
ditionally refused to auction its con-
vention to the highest bidder.
Reeces Wings Clipped.
The fact is that votes and to spare
to beat Chicago had been lined .up
before the committeeman left for
Kansas City, and with the argument
against holding the convention In the
bailiwick Of Col. Mccormick the main
factor In inducing this commitment
every committeeman known to favor
Dewey, Vandenberg or Stassen for the
presidential nomination voted for Phila-
deIphia. s
The committee followed through BY
clipping the wings Of Chairman Reece.
From time immemorial it has been
customary to authorize the chairman to
name committees on credentials. rules.
ana arrangements for temporary or
ganization Of the convention.
In this case, action to the above effect
was delayed overnight and Mr.. Reece
was given power to appoint the com
mltteeS only after he had promised
privately to scatter their membership
among supporters of the various presi-
dental candidates so as to avoid loading
the temporary organization in favor Of
any one Of them.
1t Is notable circumstance that the
man who moved to curb Reece was g.
Mason Owlett OF Pennsylvania. Re-
porting this development, the strongly
Republican Philadelphia Inquirer de-
clared that Owlett acted on behalf of
bloc opposing the presidential
candidacy of Senator Robert A. TAFT"
And the Inquirer editorial in the same
edition criticized Reeee for violating the
neutrality which usually has been OBJ
served by national chairmen by "actiye-
~ and vigorously supporting Chicago,s
bid"
Taft Shaky in Pennsylvania.
If Senator Taft was pulling the strings
in favor of Chicago as the alignment
OF his supporters in the committee indi-
acted, his defeat would seem to extend to
irretrievable loss OF Pennsylvania 10
convention votes in the 1948 fight for
presidential nomination.
1t is fairly safe prediction further
that the same combination of 80 States,
including New York, Pennsylvania,
Michigan and Minnesota, which solidly
voted to send the convention to Phila-
delphia, will stand together just as
strongly against any candidate that
Col. Mccormick favors for the presi-
dency. 944
Up to date the colonel has confined
himself to designating the people he
will not support NOTABLY Dewey, Van
denberg or Stassen. The widely ac-
cepted surmise that he ultimately will
turn up in the corner Of either Taft or
Bricker is arrived at by process of elimi-
nation.
As respects the Republican Party's po-
sition on foreign affairs it is highly
significant also that, on the day follow
ing rejection Of Chicago for the con-
vention, Republicans in the Senate voted
IS to is in favor Of bolstering Greece
and Turkey against Russian aggression.
Vandehberg led the fight for this meas
ure and Gov. Dewey strongly en-
dorsed it.
Taft said he supported the bill re-
luctantly on the assumption that our
financial Intervention to resist COM
munism will go no farther than Greece
and Turkey. Senator Bricker voted
against It, 80
North American Newspaper Aiisnce)
Eek Does 1t