Evening star., 1948-05-25
The Political Mil
Poll Of Congress Finds
Taft Is Best President

Toft Is Best President
Effect of Congress Opinion on Votes
Doubtful in View of Past Elections
By Gould LiscsIs
Senator Taft, Of Ohio, would make the best
Presidsnt--as compared to ak other Republican
presidential possibilities, Messrs. Dewey. Stas.
sen, Martin. Vandenberg. Warren and Mac.
Misunderstanding to . congressional opinion
poll taken by the q. q. News-World Report,
made public today.
The poll. which includes the votes Of Demo-
cratic members of Congress as well rs those
Of Republican members, was intended to evalu.
ate these Republican candidates and near
candidates for the presidency on the basis OF
ability-ability to hold down the job in the
White House. Party preference was supposed
to be "out" in making the evaluation,
It was . poll with q difference. But since
members Of Congress are human, the answers
to the question propounded C'What kind of .
President would each Of these men make, very
good fair or poor"D may be interpreted ss
indicating the voters choice for the Republican
nomination. 1t probably represents the Re-
publicans choice for election. too although
that would not apply in the case Of the Demo.
craG VINO PARTICIPATED
vandenberg Runs Second.
Senator Taft received ls7 votes in the very
good" President column. Senator Vandenberg
of Michigan. was second with ISL; Gov. Dewey,
of New York, third, las: Speaker Martin. Of
Massachusetts, fourth, los; former Gov. Stas-
sen. Of Minnesota, nth. IS; Gen. Douglas Mac.
Arthur, sixth. "A, and Gov. Warren Of Cali.
fornia, seventh, 48.
It was entirely natural that members Of
Congress should give their preference to .
member-or members, rs in this case-of the
body OF which they themselves are members.
Senators Taft, Vandenberg and Speaker
Martin all stand out in this preference poll.
Gov Dewey OF New York ran third, notwith-
standing the wide support he has for the
presidency throughout the country-and
Harold E. stassen, whose sensational primary
victories in Wisconsin, Nebraska. Ohio and
Pennsylvania, boosted him into the front line,
stood fifth.
Not without interest is the fact that Senator
vandenberg, in the very good" column, re-
ceived Democratic 80 votes Senator Taft, 50
and Gov Dewey, only Is. Indeed, Gov. Dewey
received the fewest first choice Democratic
votes Of all seven candidates, except Gen. Mac
Arthur. who had only II. Decidedly the Dem.
ocrats do not wish Gov. Dewey for President.
Presumably because Of his strong leadership
in favor Of international cooperation by the
United States, a policy which has been advo-
Gated by Democratic Presidents since the days
of Woodrow Wilson, the Democrats turned in
a big vote for Senator Vandenburg.
Whether any of the Democrats who gave
Senator Taft first place did 50 in the hope that
he might be the Republican standard bearer
it is impossible to know-but 1t has been said
many times, by many Democrats, they would
like to see Senator Taft nominated. Their
desire was based on the belief that he would
be their weakest opponent. Obviously the
Democrats do not want Gov. Dewey nominated
on any count.
Opinions Effect Doubtful.
Members Of Consress-particularly the
Democratic members-do not pick Republican
presidential nominees. It is even doubtful
that their opinions will be effective-except
where, in isolated cases, Republican mem.
Ter OF Congress is a delegate to the Republican
National Convention. Since 1900, when
Mckinley, who had been member Of the
House, was renominated by the Republicans.
no member Of either the House or Senate
except Harding, Of Ohio-has received . Re-
publican presidential nomination. This year
1t may be different A Republican Congress
record the party will have to make Its fight
for the presidency-even though Dewey.
Stassen Warren or Macarthur be the presi-
dental nominee. The argument may be made
that it is logical to turn either to Senator Taft
Senator Vandenberg or Speaker Martin.
Although Gov Warren. Of California, ranked
seventh in votes in the very good" column.
he was ahead Of all the other candidates in
the fair" column, with ls4 votes. II these
are second choice votes, the western governor
should stand we'll as = compromise candidate.
in the event OF deadlocked convention. Mr..
Stassen was second in this column With ISL.
and Gov. Dewey third with l35. Senator Taft
had 81 and Senator Vandenberg, l06
The poll represents the views Of IS out Of
s6 Senators, and 274 Representatives out Of
432-there are three vacancies today.
OF those making answer 126 voted Mac
Arthur would make. poor" president: 81
said that Stassen would make poor President;
IS, Martin: "a, Warren: 50, Dewey: 20 Taft: 80,
Vandenberg.
Questions and Answers