Evening star., 1948-06-11
Brown Predicts Early
Nomination Of Taft as
,Favorite Sons Switch
By Gould Lincoln

No deadlock in the Republican
national convention and a Taft
nomination for President on an ear
ly ballot are the firm predictions
made by Representative Brown Of
Ohio, preconvention Taft-for-P Pres
ident manager.
Mr.. Brown expressed his optimism
at final press conference before
leaving to take charge of Taft head
quarters in Philadelphia.
Displaying great confidence in a
Taft victory, Mr.. Brown said he
had just completed recheck of
Senator Taft's delegate strength.
1t showed, he said, that Senator
Taft would have more votes on the
first ballot for the presidential NOM
ination than any of his competitors,
Further, Mr.. Brown contended,
Senator Taft could have 3l2 votes on
the first ballot, if he wanted them.
He predicted that on the second
ballot Senator Taft would pick up
from so to 80 additional votes,
and that by the third or fourth
ballot he would be cutting into the
early Dewey following.
First Ballot Switch Seen.
"Of course" said Mr.. Brown,
there is the strong possibility that
some of the favorite sons will throw
their support to Taft on the first
ballot, if the sentiment for Taft
continues to run as strongly as it
has in recent weeks"
Mr.. Brown declined to specify
which of the favorite son candi-
dates might switch their strength
Immediately to Senator Taft. He
said, however, he has had firm
promises of some of them to come
over to the Taft camp.
Mr.. Brown insisted Senator Taft
will have a majority of the dele
gates from the Southern States,
particularly South Carolina, Texas,
Louisiana, Alabama and Georgia.
There will be a contest over the
Georgia delegation, he said, but
he is confident it will be settled in
favor of the Taft delegation. In
North Carolina, he said Senator
Taft will break even.
Record of Congress Issue.
The ISSUE" said Mr.. Brown, lis
now plain enough for any one to
see. The presidential campaign will
be fought on the record of the Re-
publican Congress during the past
two years. If any one had any
doubt of that, it was removed when
President Truman threw down the
gauntlet with his attack on Cong
ress.
The Republican Party has been
in control of Congress and has
established a noteworthy record on
domestic issues. Who is better
suited to represent the Republican
Party on its record in Congress
than Senator Taft?
1--WE are perfectly willing to go to
the people on that record and let
them decide For once the cam
paign will be argued on clean-cut
lines. And Bob Taft is the man to
lead our party"
Talked With Vandenberg.
Mr.. Brown was asked if he con-
siders Senator Vandenberg of
Michigan, merely favorite son
candidate for the nomination. He
replied that he had recently dis
cussed- the situation with Senator
Vandenberg, and the latter had told
him he was not candidate.
did he give you a Sherman an
swer (that he would not run if NOM
mated ?" Mr. Brown was asked.
NO" replied Mr. Brown, with
twinkle in his eye.
Senator Taft will be placed in
nomination by Senator Bricker: of
Ohio, Mr.. Brown said. Senarpr
Brieker worked for Senator TaH's
nomination in 1910, and Senator
Taft was for Senator Bricker in
1914.
Mr.. Brown, attacking the oft re-
peated suggestion that Senator Taft
would not prove a strong candidate,
said:
Bob Taft is one man all New
Dealers fear more than any man in
America. He has been bitterly at
tackled and viciously slandered by
his enemies. But all true Ameri-
cans realize that the more Taft
is attacked the more the Republi-
can Party needs him"