Evening star., 1947-08-02

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ants. killed each other of and en-
abled Warren G. Harding, decided
dark horse, to pick up the prize.
The prospective front runners
this time are Gov. Dewey of New
York and Senator Taft of Ohio,
but. as was the case in 1920, many
, delegates scattered among other
candidates make it improbable that
any candidate will win within 10
ballots.
Straws in the Wind.
Here are some of the credibly
established straws leading to this
opinion:
Gov. Dewey generally is rated the
best bet, but this Is mainly because
of his firm hold on New York's big
delegation and because of public
opinion polls which. for six years,
have almost invariably given him
long lead.
On the basis Of organizational
strength-meaning the preference
Of party wheelhorses, who in the
past usually have controlled the
selection of nonprimary delegates
Senator Taft is placed by expert
enced politicians on par with, per-
haps even stronger than Gov.
Dewey.
It Is dificult to see how either
of these men can enter the conven-
ton with as many as 400 votes, in
a total of about 100.
Gov. Earl Warren has stated
that he will enter the presidential
primary in California, in order to tie
up it's So delegates, and II neighbor-
ing States choose to adopt him as a
sort of Western favorite son he
has said he will raise no objection.
Gov. Warren insists, on the other
hand, that he will not enter presi-
dental primaries or sanction any
effort otherwise to win him dele
gates east of the Rockies. Western
ers say Gov. Warren is likely to start
with around 100 convention votes.
Harold Stassen, of Minnesota,
actively campaigning for more than
a year, is expected to have at least
so but not more than 100 votes.
Senator Vandenberg of Michigan,
Gov. Green of Illinois. Repre-
sentative Halleck of Indiana and
Senators Saltonstall or Lodge of
Massachusetts,, Baldwin Of Connect
cut and Wherry of Nebraska are
likely to tie up among them $50
delegates-nearly quarter of the
convention. There probably will be
other favorite sons.
The last weeks of the congress
sional session saw a marked drawing
together of Republican Senator'S
and especially of Messrs. Taft and
Vandenberg. There is the strongest
ground for believing that these two
have bridged their differences and
that the 194s session will find them
working more closely together than
ever before as respects both domestic
and foreign issues.
Shift in Dewey Tactics.
Even Gov. Dewey, the one candi-
date whose friends have been talk
ing of bandwagon victory, is said
to be shifting his tactics on the as
sumption that the convention battle
may be long and drawn out. Corre-
spondents with Gov Dewey in the
West report that instead of hunting
for all possible first-ballot votes, as
ne did in 1910 and 1914, Gov. Dewey
is saying now that he wants no dele
gate at the beginning who is not pre-
pared to stick to the finish.
Last but not least of the factors
counted as Tightening the Republi-
can race is the word coming from
Kansas that Gen. Eisenhower
transfer, to a university presidency
next January will signalize his politi-
cal availability.
There is a great change from the
last three presidential outlooks, in
that the Republicans this time are
extremely confident that the man
they nominate will land in the White
House AS against Mr. Roosevelt.
after 1882, the opposition never held
more than forlorn hope.
Because they are confident of
winning. not only the Republican
aspirants may be expected to fight
harder, but opinion among the dele
gates as to just what kind of Presi-
dent this man or that man would
make is likely to exert greater
weight The latter state of mind is
apt to go hard with pussyfooters.
whoever they may be.