Evening star., 1948-06-26
Wurren's S Choice Seen
Strengthening Ticket
Assures G. o. P. Coast Victory, Good
Friend of Dewey
The Political Mill
Bv Gould Lincoln


ton to be decided by the Republican Na.
tional Committee, after 1t had become appar-
ent that Gov. Dewey Of New York would head
the national ticket. was who would be the vice
presidential nominee.
Harold E. Stassen Of Minnesota had said he
would not accept second place with Gov.
Dewey. Gov. Warren Of California had said
he was not interested" In becoming Vice
President. Senator Bricker Of Ohio, who was
Gov. Deweys running mate In 1914; House
Majority Leader Halleck Of Indiana and
Gov. Green Of Illinois al were available.
Despite various reports. Gov. Dewey never
made any commitment to any one regarding
the vice presidential nomination. So 1t was
with 4 clean slate that the new presidential
nominee st in conference with Republican
leaders from ali sections Of the country far
into the night and until the small hours Of
the morning following his own nomination to
consider this question from all angles.
Warren Admirable Choice.
Primarily the issue was to pick running
mate for Gov. Dewey who would strengthen
the ticket, although 1t was more important
still to fnd . man At to be Chief Executive
should anything untoward happen to the
President, In the event Of Gov. Deweys elec-
tion In addition, Gov. Dewey and his con.
ferees had to decide whether 1t was better to
reward one OF his supporters for the presi-
Dental nomination "a natural thing to do)
or to help cement the party by taking for
Vice President one Of those who had been an
opponent.
It was difncult choice to make. Gov War
ren's acceptance was an answer to prayer Hs
is Governor of the great State Of the Pacific
Coast as Gov. Dewey is Governor Of the Empire
State on the Atlantic. Gov. Warren had
wrested political control of California from
the Democrats, winning by . large margin
while Franklin D. Roosevelt was still In the
White House Gov. Dewey had won similar
battle In New York. Both are serving their
second terms. Dewey-Warren ticket Is from
every angle admirable Gov. Warren's noEni-
nation assures Republican victory on the West
Coast. Gov Dewey in the East and Midwest
is strong As horse radish.
When Gov Warren said he was mot inter-
ested" in vice presidential nomination he was
q candidate for President. When that issue
no longer confronted him, 1t was . different
Warren. Further, he was persuaded that he
could be Of real service to the Republican Party
and to the country If he would accept.
Stassen Could Have Accepted.
Gov Dewey and his conferees were con-
fronted with = situation, before Warren &C
cepted. Harold Stassen, who had been goaded
into saying last year he would not run for Vice
President with Gov. Dewey, had to make such
q statement to convince people he was real
candidate for the presidential nomination and
not Just shadow boxing. But when the presi-
Dental nomination had been settled, he too,
was in . position where he could say yes"
without doing violence to his former stand.
Mr.. stassen had proved himself widely popu-
lar with millions Of young people and indepen-
dent voters. His following is almost rs fanati-
cal as was that Of Franklin D. Roosevelt.
And Mr.. Stassens friends put all the pressure
they could bring to bear on Gov. Dewey and the
conferees to get back Of the Minnesotan for
the vice presidential nomination. Gov. War
rens acceptance relieved that situation. Un-
doubtedly a Dewey -Stassen ticket would have
been tremendously strong with the voters, too.
Dewey, Warren Good Friends.
Gov Warren unlike Mr.. Stassen, had never
entered . coalition at the convention to stop"
Gov Dewey. He was not out to stop" any one,
but to get the nomination himself If that were
possible Further, he and Gov. Dewey have been
good friends and have kept in touch with one
another constantly, on problems affecting State
government. If Gov. Warren could not have
the presidential nomination he preferred Gov.
Dewey to either Mr. stassen or Senator Taft
of Ohio.
Outside of Senator Martin Of Pennsylvania.
no one did more real service for the Dewey
cause at the national convention than House
Leader Halleck, who lined up 1ndianas 20
delegates and threw them into Gov. Dewey's
column at q crucial moment-and kept them
there. The nomination for Vice President was
due him. His failure to get 1t was one Of the
fortunes of politics, which are sometimes hard
to take.