Evening star., 1948-05-25
Taft Claims Strenqth
In South, Vies Today
With Dewey in Texas
BY the Associoted Press

Senator Taft of Ohio said today
he is counting on two-thirds of the
267 Republican presidential nomi-
mating delegates from IL Southern
and three borderline States.
Backers of Senator Taft and Gov.
Dewey of New York compete in a
Texas convention today for that
States SO nominating votes, the
richest Republican prize in normally
Democratic territory.
Taft supporters lay advance claim
to at least 26 of those votes, with
Gov. Dewey taking most of the rest
and Harold E. Stassen trailing with
one or two.
There were reports that if the
Taft forces should succeed in putting
over a rule to force the delegation
to vote as a unit, State Republican
Chairman George C. Hopkins might
lead a rump delegation to the con-
vention, supporting Gov. Dewey.
Majority Claimed in South.
Although Senator Taft didn't dis
cuss in detail his claimed Southern
strength, aides contend the Ohioan
will have majority backing in IL of
the Is States on the first ballot at
Philadelphia.
They concede Gov. Dewey only
one delegation, Oklahoma's 20-vote
group. and say they will break even
with him in Florida, with six votes
each and four for Mr.. Stassen.
A majority of Tennessee's % votes
also were claimed by the Taft camp
after they are cast on the first ballot
for favorite son Carroll Reece, Re-
publican national chairman.
The Ohioan's followers broke dowN
this way their appraisal of South
ern strength in delegates who have
been or are to be chosen:
Alabama, 10 of IA for Taft Ar
kansas, Taft, II; Dewey, 2; Stassen,
l; Florida. Taft, 6; Dewey, 6; Stas-
sen, 4; Georgia, all 16 for Taft;
Louisiana, II of 13 for Taft; Mis-
sissippi, all 8 for Taft if Perry How
ard delegation is seated; North Car
olina, majority of 26 for Taft; South
Carolina, all for Taft; Tennessee,
% for Reece, Majority for Taft after
first ballot: Virginia, majority of 81
for Taft; West Virginia, majority of
16 for Taft; Texas, 26 of 80 for Taft;
Oklahoma, 10 for Dewey, l possibly
Taft, Kentucky, majority of Is for
Iaft.n 20 ear o--
Claims Challenged.
Dewey and Stassen supporters I'M
mediately challenged these claims.
But Senator Cooper, Republican,
of Kentucky, said Senator Taft's
men seem to be close in calling the
Kentucky score.
'Senator Cooper, who Is support
ing Senator Vandenberg, Republic
an. of Michigan, for the nomina-
ton, said he thinks from II to 13
of the Is Kentucky delegates will
vote for Senator Taft. He said Gov.
Dewey will get the backing of from
seven to nine, Senator Vandenberg
will have the support of three and
Mr.. Stassen of one.
Senator Taft's camp has claimed
the Ohioan will have about 300
votes on the first Philadelphia bal
lot and will top the list. Gov. Dew
ey's men claim an equal number
and say their man will be the leader.
1t seemed obvious that much of
Senator Taft's strength would have
to come from the South If he
reached any such total. If he took
two-thirds of the votes furnished by
the is States, that would give him
17s.
Outside of this area he has an
unchallenged A in Ohio and six in
Illinois-a total of 50-as well as
claimed scattered strength in vari-
GUS other areas.
Gov. Dewey, with 81 in New York,
IL in Oregon, six in New Hamp-
shire and scattered votes elsewhere,
leads the field in unchallenged sup
port with a total of 145.