Evening star., 1948-04-15
Small 'IsoIafionist'
Vote Seen in Results
OF Nebraska Primary
Dominant 6. O. P. GrouE
Shown Either Center
Or Toword the Right
Rp Das,ld Lawrsncs

Or Toward the Right
By David Laurence
Nebraska's primary indicates far
more than the mere fact that for
mer Gov. stassen Of Minnesota, who
won the same primary race four
years ago, is . plurality winner this
year.
The most significant fact is that
the Stassen vote plus the Vanden-
berg vote IL close to majority OF
the total vote polled. Inasmuch rs
Messrs. stassen and Vandenberg
are outspokenly international in
their viewpoint, 1t means that, in
a State occasionally referred to as
"isolationist," there is sizable bloc
of Republican voters ready to &C
cept the views Of the two stanchest
exponents Of g. policy OF inter-
nationlism.
With only 1o3 precincts out Of
2,024 unreported, the Vandenberg
vote Of 1851 and the Stassen vote
of 1897 makes total of 84,858,
which Is only q few thousand short
of an actual majority as against all
the other votes polled.
Fraction Of Total Vote.
But 1t cannot be said that all the
votes cast for Gov. Dewey-a total
of 81, ,289 from the same precincts
are by any means %solationist." A
goodly proportion would go to either
Senator Vandenberg or Mr.. Stassen
II the choice were limited to those
two persons as against any "isola-
tionist" candidate.
It may be concluded, therefore,
that the so-called "isoiationist" vote
in Nebraska Is q small fraction OF
the total Republican vote in that
State.
A combination Of votes looked at
from the domestic point OF view,
and from what might be termed a
"left-wing" or "right-wing" concept
on economic questions, would put
Mr.. Stassen with 1897 over toward
the cleft" while Senator Taft, Gen.
Macarthur and Speaker Martin
might be considered over toward the
right" with total OF 27,973.
The question then would be how
to classify the 1899 votes cast for
Gov. Dewey, Senator Vandenberg
and Gov. Warren, who cannot be
placed anywhere else except in the
center" in relation to Mr.. Stassen,
on the one hand, and the Taft
Macarthur Martin bloc on the
other.
The Dewey -Vandenberg Warren
bloc, being Of the center" type,
might attract more adherents from
the 27,973 votes cast for Messrs.
Taft. Martin and Macarthur than
1t could obtain from the Stassen
group. It might be inferred that IN
q race between Mr.. Stassen and any
conservative, the latter would have
won the Nebraska primary.
The indications, therefore, are
that the dominant group in the
Republican Party Is either center"
or toward the right" rather than
to the left" Thus, the total in
Nebraska of all the Dewey, Vanden-
berg. Taft, Macarthur, Warren and
Martin votes amounts to 100,802 as
against Mr.. Stassen's 1897.
stassen Stock Will Rise.
So far as headlines are concerned,
where a plurality victory out OF a
field Of seven names voted on means
almost as much as II 1t were clear
majority, the Stassen stock will rise:
His supporters In other States Will
be encouraged. In fact, 1t might be
said that If the convention were
held tomorrow Mr.. Stassen would
come near to getting the vice presi-
Dental nomination. The conserva-
tive nature Of the Republican dele
gates argues against the probability
that he would be acceptable for the
top Of the ticket on domestic issues.
Gov. Dewey found-a good deal of
opposition from conservatives IN
side the Republican Party In 1914.
He was accused of espousing New
Deal" ideas. He has managed to live
down much OF that reputation, but
1t is evident that among the con-
servatives there is a greater friend
illness to Senator Vandenberg, a
known progressive" than to the
z4l.. &,,o HproororsjveSo - Gov
Dewey and Mr.. Stassen.
In many of the State delegations
which will appear at the Republican
National Convention are members
Of the Senate and the House. There
is among these predisposition IN
favor of Senator Vandenberg. If
Senator Taft and Gov. Dewey ap-
pear to be out of the race, the
chances are that these congress
sional members, who are influential
in the party, would swing behind
the Michigan Senator rather than
behind Mr.. Stassen. 1t Is conceiv-
able, too, that the Stassen strength
might be enlisted behind Senator
Vandenberg If the Minnesota candi-
date is unable to get the nomination
and 1t appears that the convention
is swinging toward a conservative
chosen from the Taft, Macarthur
or Martin group OF delegates.
In fact, many Of the Dewey dele
gates would get behind Senator
Vandenberg rather than permit an
ultraconservative or isolationist
type Of candidate to be named
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