Evening star., 1948-05-03
Taft and Stassen End
Ohio Campaign With
Radio Talks Tonight
By The ASsocioted Press

Senator Taft and Harold E.
StaSSen wind up their Ohio dele
gate battle today amid signs that
the outcome may sway early Re-
publican presidential balloting
at Philadelphia.
Both candidates planned last hour
appeals over State wide radio hook
ups tonight in their contest over
% of Ohios So presidential nom
mating votes.
Both camps expressed confidence
in the results when more than TOO
900 Republicans go to the poles in
tomorrOW'S primary.
Politicians were watching the out
come for its possible effect on foot
loose delegations from such States
as Illinois and Pennsylvania, where
the bloom of favorite sons might
fade quickly,
Taft Followers Hopeful.
From the Taft camp came reports
that a majority of the 56-vote
Illinois group is ready to come their
way speedily at the National con-
vention.
In fact, some of the Taft followers
are predicting the Ohioan can have
81 on the first ballot, despite previ-
Gus plans to back Gov. Dwight
Green as a favorite son. Gov. Green
has been named as the national
convention keynoter.
But these Taft supporters admit
privately that unless the Senator
can stand Mr.. Stassen off with
half dozen or fewer delegates from
his own State, the Illinois delegates
may fall on the other side of the
wall.
Wants Pennsylvania support.
There is some talk that Gen.
MacArthur's friends may be around
to pick them up.
Senator Tafts hope for support
in the 73-vote Pennsylvania delega-
tion-pledged to Senator Martin as
a favorite son-Was said to hinge
in part on his showing here.
Gov. Dewey of New York. now
campaigning to keep Oregon's II
convention votes out of Mr.. Stas-
sens hands, has his eye on the
Pennsylvania delegation, too.
Mr.. Stassen's hackers concede
that the Illinois Pennsylvania dele
gate lineup may be the battering
ram OF a stop-Stassen movement.
Straining for Victory.
With that in mind, they are
straining every point to pile a VIC
tory in Ohio on top of previous
popular vote successes in Nebraska
and Pennsylvania and his big dele
gate victory in Wisconsin.
The Stassen hackers privately
talked of sweeping 19 of the %
Ohio delegate contests in which
they have candidates entered. Poll
ticians here generally say that any
number from 10 on up would be
up as lor victory for
the former Minnesota Governor.
The Taft people were willing to
concede the loss of only six dele
gates, at most. They have 80 al |
ready sewed up, since Mr.. Stassen's
men entered only part of the con-
in the industrial areas
where opposition to the Taft-Hart-
ley Labor Act and is co-arthur is
reported to be strong.
Defends Labor Law,
If they can set the Minnesotan
down with six, the Taft hackers |
claim they will have taken the head |
off the Stassen tide that has run
strong across the country.
Senator Taft voiced a vigorous
defense of the labor law in a ma
tional broadcast here yesterday.
He appealed at ward meetings for
your support against anybody who
isn't from Ohio and who hasn't |
been down in Washington voting"
On the Republican legislative pro-
gram.
Then he went home to Cincinnati
'or luncheon meeting talk and |
TWO radio addresses tonight. He
caves for Washington tomorrow.
Mr.. StaSsen. flying here from New
York. planned a conference with a
group of farmers and windup radio
Talk tonight. Accompanied by Mrs. |
he will return to his home