Evening star., 1948-04-08
The Political Mill
Stussen Sweep Roises
New 6. O. P. Questions
Importance of Strong Organization
Backing Shown in Results
By Gould Lincoln


By Gould Lincoln
Harold E. Stassen's sweeping victory In thu
Wisconsin primary accomplished three things.
First, 1t increased the stature of Mr.. Stassen
himself as q contender for the Republican
presidential nomination. Second, It virtually
eliminated Gen. Douglas Macarthur from the
presidential race. Third, 1t was check to the
fast-rolling Dewey machine
If, as may happen. the Dewey drive should
be slowed down and deadlocked Republican
National Convention ensue, the nomination
OF Senator Vandenberg of Michigan becomes
more likely.
The Stassen victory can be construed as al,
aid to the candidacy of Senator Taft of Ohio
only in the theory 1t may stop" Gov. Dewey
and thereby bring stalemate in the national
convention. 1t can, however, be construed as
q blow to the Taft candidacy, since many OF
the supporters OF Gen. Macarthur are believed
to favor Senator Taft as q second choice,
Indeed. 1t has been the claim In the Taft cannn
that Gen. Macarthur was really running intere
ference for the Ohio Senator. and that Macs
Arthur delegates elected in Wisconsin would
IN the end switch to Senator Taft.
Value Of Organization.
The importance of strong organization back.
ing was emphasized by the Wisconsin results.
Mr.. Stassen had had from the start the
active support of the Tom Coleman Repub.
hcan organization-the organization which
had succeeded in eliminating the La Follettes
Phil and Bob-from public office. At,
MIR. Stassen was. in Wisconsin, fighting for
his political life Had he obtained only
small number of delegates-or none at ALA
his stock would have deprecated by more than
one half. %
Gov Dewey, on the other hand, while he has
sustained a black eye, still remains top con-
tender for the nomination. Gov. Dewey had
met Mr.. Stassen in an earlier primary-New
Hampshire-and beaten him to g. Furthers
In New York, while the Governor was losing to
Mr.. Stassen in Wisconsin, 80 district delegates
were elected for Gov. Dewey. This big bloc OF
Dewey delegates will be still further augmented
at the New York State Republican Convention
when seven delegates at large will be chosen
for the Governor. In addition, Gov Dewey
has assurance that 10 Of the Oklahoma delega-
tion-all so far chosen-are for him, In
Kansas, more than half of the delegations
already chosen are for Gov. Dewey. He also
has delegates in Iowa and Maine. @A.
In Wisconsin, Gov. Dewey rolled with tfa
punch. He was wise enough to admit in adj
more than two delegates at best. He held
that he was up against two favorite-son candi-
dates"-Gen. Macarthur, who is claimed by
the Badger State as distinguished son, and
Mr.. stassen, who lives near the border Of Wis
consin. Mr.. stassen had campaigned necessarily
throughout the State for months. =
Eyes Now on Nebraska. ia
The presidential contest now moves to Me-
braska, where next Tuesday a presidential
preference primary will be held. There Mr.
Stassen and Gov. Dewey again lock horns.
and both Of them have to face the opposition
OF Senator Taft, who is supported by the
Senator Butler organization. This Is the or
ganization which renominated Senator Butler
in 1946 over former Gov. Griswold, for whom
Mr.. Stassen campaigned. n addition, the Me-
braska Republicans will have an opportunity
to vote for three other prominent Republicans
whose names appear on the ballot-Senator
Speaker Joe" Martin. e~
The Stassenites are counting on the psychic
logical effect Of the Wisconsin victory to aid
Mr.. Stassen in this contest. However, should
Gov Dewey run ahead Of the field, much OF the
prestige he lost in Wisconsin will be restored.
In the meantime, delegates will be picked in
Carolina, Virginia and Arkansas-and Gov.
Dewey may have some Of them
So far as Mr.. Stassen's own chances for the
presidential nomination are concerned, he will
have strong opposition from both the Dewey.
and Taft camps. He has offended both. He
was quoted last year as saying he would not
accept q vice presidential nomination to run
with Gov. Dewey. He has entered the Ohio
primary against Senator Taft-on May -
much to the wrath Of the Ohio Senator. ~
If the nomination eventually goes to Senator.
Vandenberg, who looms as the strongest conn.,
promise candidate, there may be q drive to-
place Mr.. Stassen in second place on the
Republican ticket, despite the fact both hail
from the Midwest. However, vandenberg
nomination might be followed with a strong
effort in the convention to name Senator Lodge
of Massachusetts, for Vice President s-