Evening star., 1948-03-27
The Political Mill
Democrats Now Urging
Eisenhower Nomination
General Silent on Pleas That They
Can't Win With Truman
By Gould Lincoln

By Gould Lincoln
The restless Eisenhower for President ghost
continues to walk At first the Eisenhower talk
came principally from Republican sources
Tor the Republicans seemed to need sorely q
candidate who could win over President Tru.
man. This was months ago-before the Tru.
man popularity had taken nose dive. Now,
however, 1t comes from Democrats, who also
want to win but do not believe they have 0
chance with Harry Truman.
Gen. Eisenhower himself Is making no com.
ment on the revival of demand for his nomna.
ton. The best information obtainable is that
the general will stand on his letter to L. v.
Finder, publisher of the Manchester IN. H)
Evening Leader of last February, in which Gen.
Eisenhower said he couldn't" accept nonaina.
ton. He was given full credit for meaning
what he said in this letter, which put an end to
the drive to win the Republican nomination for
Gen. Eisenhower. Now some Democrats, how.
ever seem to believe that while Gen. Eisen.
hover would look askance at q Republican
presidential nomination, he would fall for q
nomination at the hands of the Democratic
National Convention.
In this year Of 1948 Republican presidential
nomination seems to be worth more than q
Democratic nomination. Yet Gen. Eisenhower
backed away from the efforts Of Republicans to
make him their candidate. There is one point
the general has never clarified-whether he is q
Republican or a Democrat. 1t would be easy
now, If he does not wish Democratic nomina.
tion to say: II am not a Democrat" or "I am
a Republican"
G. o. p. Could Act First.
The Republican National Convention opens
June 81 in Philadelphia. The COP, If it feared
the Democrats would nominate Gen. Eisen-
hover, could offer the general nrst place on
its national ticket-for the Democratic Ma
tonal Convention does not assemble until
July II. There are Republicans who would
follow this course. Others do not take Demo-
cratic Eisenhower threat SO seriously. They
figure that the general would put himself In an
untenable position If he said yes" to a Demo.
cratic nomination-whether it came in the
shape of a draft or not AL because of his de-
tailed letter to Mr.. Finder explaining why hs
couldn't" accept a nomination.
Further, should he accept Democratic
nomination. 1t would be over the politically
PROSTATE form Of his Commander in Chief,
President Truman. Also, as a Democratic
presidential nominee, Gen. Eisenhower would
in all probability have the opposition of Henry
Wallace and his third party. At one time Mr.
Wallace was reported to have tried to persuade
Gen. Eisenhower to run for the Democratic
presidential nomination. Mr.. Wallace has gone
so far now in his effort to establish a new
political party, whose candidate he is to be,
there seems no drawing back for him AS q
third party candidate, Mr. Wallace would still
continue to draw more votes from the Demo-
cratic ranks than from the Republican.
Eisenhower Called Liberal
Jacob M. Arvey, who has succeeded Edward
]. Kelly as leader of the Democratic political
machine in Chicago, is quoted as saying: II
hope Gen. Eisenhower is available He Is the
kind OF liberal with whom we could win, both
nationally and locally" Gen. Eisenhower may
be liberal" But if he is, and why and how
he is. has not been explained to the general
public. Does Mr.. Arvey believe for a minute
that Gen. Eisenhower would about face the
administrations foreign policy; that he would
take different position on Palestine partition,
or on the question of civil rights?
Reports have circulated that several Demo-
cratic Senators have called on Gen. Eisenhower
to ask If he would run If nominated by their
party These reports appear to have been
exaggerated. One of the latest projects Ii
w. E. Inc an organization to draft" the
generator the Democratic nomination. " E.
stands for veterans for Eisenhower On v. E.
day, May 8, 1t is proposed to shower him with
draft appeals
Meanwhile Gen. Eisenhower Is In Washing.
ton working on his memoirs preparing to take
up his new Office of President of Columbia
University about May l. 1t might be simpler
If he would make final and clinching state.
ment on his availability for q presidential
nomination.