Evening star., 1948-06-29
Political Traditions
Broken as Leadership
Becomes Essential
First-Hond knowledge
Of National Problems
Shown by Gov. Dewey
By David Laurence

Many a lesson In practical poll
tics can be learned from the Re-
publican National Convention-not
the least Of which is that there
are no rules or traditions which can
not be broken II circumstances re-
quire 1t.
-Four years ago, Immediately after
Gov. Dewey's defeat by the late
President Roosevelt, many Repub-
ncans began counting out the losing
candidate. It was said that he could
not be nominated second time be-
cause the Republicans never renom-
mate q loser. The Democrats had
done 1t often. The fact that the
electorate once had passed an un-
favorable verdict has never seemed
to disturb the Democrats at all.
In the case of Thomas Dewey,
it was the fact that he was COVER
nor Of the largest State of the Union
and had an opportunity to play an
active part in politics that won him
constant attention. He himself
jocularly referred at Washington
dinners to the party tradition about
never renominating a loser. But
apparently neither he nor his asso-
ciates took this seriously.
1914 Dispatch Recalled.
Looking back to the dispatches
written in the days Immediately fol-
lowing the November 1914 election
by this correspondent, the follow
al, Dc
"As to Gov. Dewey's prospects
for another try in 1913, this will
depend on what he does when he
comes up for reelection as governor
in 1916. If he demonstrates that
he has carried New York State that
year by q bigger majority than ever
before, he may win the presidential
nomination in 1948. He is young
enough and If the managers OF his
campaign devote themselves to
building up the Republican Party
organizations in the next four years,
Dewey may have another try at
the presidency"
One of the Governors closest
friends, on reading that paragraph
when 1t was published, expressed
hearty concurrence and pointed to
the unfortunate belief of many poll
ticians that a second nomination
was not customary.
Gov. Dewey, however, not only
carried New York State in 1916 by
a bigger majority than he had the
first time but by record-breaking
majority. He had the same remark
able opportunities for contact with
the governors of other States as the
late Franklin Roosevelt had when
he was governor of New York. Gov.
Dewey won the second nomination
because he had the inside track
throughout the many State delega-
tions, not few Of which were pre-
sided over or managed by governors.
There is no doubt about 1.-THE
governorship of New York remains
today, as always, a good stepping
stone to the presidency. So also
does the governorship of many an
other State, though it is question
able whether the training a gov
ernor gets fits him as Immediately
for duties in Washington as does
training in Congress.
Trained as Leaders.
Not every Senator or Representa-
tive who has been a candidate for
the presidency was necessarily
good choice because of his member
ship in Congress but the men
trained as leaders would have made
good Presidents. One difficulty
about q governor who comes to
Washington is that he has to learn
the ropes in national policy and
legislation and it takes a year or
more to get familiar with the ma
tional processes.
There is no doubt, on the other
hand, that experience with State
legislature is helpful in dealing
with the National Congress. AS
between governor of high quail
fication and a real leader from
Congress, there is much to be said
for the experience gained by the
latter.
The system in our National Gov
ernment is more complex than ever
and it takes f1rst-hand knowledge |
of national problems to enable a
to steer successful
course. One hopes the day will not
be far distant when a President
can take Office without the need of
a brain trust" and one who can
write his own speeches instead of
using ghost" writer's.
One hopes also that the day is
not far distant when, under a par
system, it will be neces-
sary that the Chief Executive be
selected out of the leadership in
Congress and be responsive to the
will of the people, not on a fixed
tenure but all the time. Political
traditions are being broken as good
leadership becomes more than ever
essential.
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