Evening star., 1948-05-16
Republicans Moy Pick
Martin in Case Of
q Deadlock
By Gould Lincoln

Of the Eightieth Congress is no ex-
ception. Indeed, serious considers
ton has been given to making this
63-year-old bachelor the Republican
nominee this year.
Much of the discussion has been
predicated on the theory that none
of the so-called leading contenders
for the presidential nomination may
obtain q majority vote Of the 1,os4
delegates, which would deadlock the
convention. Under that condition.
his boosters maintain, Speaker Mar
tin would be q natural. He has
proved his republicanism and his
devotion to the country. In almost
a quarter century of service, he has
reached the top rung in the Ma
tional Legislature. Hard and con-
sistent work, plus ability to make
friends, as well as to lead have put
the totally unpretentious Mr.. Martin
in an office frequently described as
second only to the presidency.
Son of Village Blacksmith
In this connection. 1t may be men
toned that Speaker Martin is in line
for the presidency should President
Truman die in ONCE. The law of
succession, placing the Speaker I'M
mediately after the Vice President,
was put through the present Con-
gress, on the earnest recommends
ton Of Mr.. Truman, although he
realized that 1t would mean q Re-
publican in the White House II any
thing untoward happened to him.
Speaker Martin naturally has no
hankering to enter the White House
via this route. He would be de-
lighted, on the other hand, to win
his way, by election next November,
to the presidency. The son of a
village blacksmith, q newsboy at 5
years Of age, owner and publisher
Of q small-town newspaper at "a,
his election as Chief Executive
would maintain the American ira
dition Of free opportunity.
Mr.. Martin has a host of friends
he is a friendly man. Politically
he is astute, and he knows the
game from the ground up. In his
early days he served in both the
House and Senate Of Massachusetts.
He became Republican leader OF
the National House in 1939-the
Republicans were then in the mi
nority-and he continued in that
post until he was chosen Speaker
without opposition on the Repub-
lican Side-in 1947.
Convention Chairman
Only one Speaker Of the House has
ever been elected President-James
K. Polk, in 1874. Two others, Hen
ry Clay and James G. Blaine, were
nominated for the presidency by
major political parties. Polk was
Jackson Democrat-from Ten
nessee-and an ardent supporter OF
the annexation Of Texas. Jack
Garner of Texas, while Speaker, was
nominated and elected Vice Presi-
dent, and later was an also-ran
candidate for the presidential nomi-
nation when he could not stomach
a third term for Franklin D. Roose-
velt.
In the coming Republican Ma
tional Convention, Mr.. Martin will
be under the flood lights. He has
been selected by the committee on
arrangements for the permanent
craftsmanship of the convention.
The convention will, of course, rati-
fy the selection. 1t has become a
habit for Mr.. Martin to serve as
permanent chairman at these Re-
publican affairs. In 1910, he was
permanent chairman and saw Wen
dell Willkie run away with the prize.
Four years later he was again per-
manent chairman. The Dewey
draft was on and 1t blew all other
candidates out Of the picture.
II there is a deadlocked con-
vention, with Dewey, Stassen and
Taft-plus a number Of favorite-
son candidates, Mr.. Martin may be
given his chance.
Incidentally and entirely in ac-
cord with the politics Of the situa-
ton and Mr.. Martins own wishes,
the Massachusetts delegation Is 60
ing to the convention uninstructed,
but ready to vote on the first ballot
for Senator Saltonstall. The Mar
tin strategy is to have the delega-
ton ready to jump to him the min
ute it would do the most good.
Friends in Every State
Speaker Martin Is not an an
nounced candidate. He is not, as
has been shown, even a favorite-so son
candidate. But that does not mean
he has not listened to the buzzing
of the presidential bee. He has
friends in every State, particularly
among Republican leaders. He has
travelled up and down and across
the country in the last year, making
many appearances and many
speeches. Decidedly, he is known
to the people.
His record as minority leader of
the House and as Speaker tells the
story Of what may be expected Of
Mr.. Martin should he become Presi-
dent. The stocky, heavy-set, gray
ing Speaker has none Of the graces
of the finished orator. He can, how
ever, say what he thinks in clear
and simple words. For the most