Evening star., 1947-10-15
By Roy A. Roberts
e. = .
\ North Amsrieon kew,poper Atliones

North Amsrieon Newspaper Alliunes
KANSAS CITY, Oct. l5.-The
COP. Presidential nomination pic
ture is becoming, more blurred as
the weeks roll by. And the chances
now are-barring some definite
trend setting In late next spring
that the Republicans will meet at
Philadelphia In June with the out
come wide open.
Two factors have contributed to
this:
The Eisenhower movement has
caught on the country over like a
prairie fire" and now has to be taken
very definitely into calculation un-
less the general should take him
self out Of the picture with finaity
which is always a possibility in the
case of an individual who doesn' t
banker for political honors.
The second consideration has been
a very definite growth of the drive
for Senator Taft. But the COP
Senate leader has so many hurdles
ahead 1t is difficult to conceive of
his eventually getting the nomina-
ton. He will formally get into the
race probably about week hence.
Gov. Dewey Of New York still leads
the pack. 1t probably would not be
correct to say he has lost ground,
but certainly his campaign has stood
still as Gen. Eisenhower and Sena-
tor Taft have gone forward.
However, Gov. Dewey cannot con-
tinue to play the cagey, safe game
he started with-just sitting back,
saying little and letting the dele
gates gravitate to his camp.
1t may be expected that the Dewey
forces will turn from silence to an
aggressive effort in the next few
months, probably shortly after the
turn of the year. His high command
has been afraid of shooting too early
and wearing out before next June.
Today, Gov. Dewey is not only
Governor of New York, but was the
party standard bearer in 1914 and is
still at least titular leader OF his
party.
AS such, the party followers felt
they were entitled to have his lead
ership and views, rather than turn
ing to Washington entirely on party
policies.
All in all, Gov. Dewey's trips did
not help him, but he has much latent
support the country over. He has a
shrewd, experienced group about him
and is very definitely in the lead as
OF today. So he can't be counted
out, especially If in the next few
months he begins to take more ag-
gressive national leadership.
The country obviously is looking
for national leader, not just a
Governor with fine record. That
explains, in part at least, the spon-
taneity of the surge for Gen. Eisen-
hover.
Taft Drive Gauged.
How far the Taft drive will 70
cannot be foretold at this time. 1t
is no secret the Democrats hope
Senator Taft will be nominated.
They figure him the easiest to beat,
while the prospect of an Eisenhower
gives them nightmare shivers.
You hear everyone saying that
Senator Taft would make q great
President but a rotten candidate.
There Is respect, even admiration,
for his courage and the outright
honesty he exhibited in his swing
across the country, pulling mo
punches and meeting the 9opposi-
tion headon. o
He performed a public service in
the way he carried discussion of
the Taft-Hartley Law to the peo-
pie, after all the Misrepresentation
that had been put forth.
While he commanded respect, it
was perfectly obvious Senator Taft
is lacking In political glamor and
cit" Picketing Of his meetings by
misguided left-wingers won him
some sympathy, but as best the
writer could get the outcome Of
the trip, Senator Taft left his audi
ences thinking but cold.
He could only expect. to be
elected If the Republicans were as
sured of a landslide victory, and