Evening star., 1948-06-16
Combinations Likely
To Influence Selection
org, 0. P. Nominee
Toft as Well as Others
Hope to Get Stossen
As Second on Ticket
Bv David Laurence

By David Laurence
Possible combinations involving
the vice presidential nomination
are likely to influence considerably
the selection of the presidential
nominee at the Republican conven-
ton next week.
Thus the report that former Gov.
stassen Of Minnesota has been in
conference with Robert r. McCor-
mick of the Chicago Tribune could
mean that the Stassen votes might
play decisive role in helping
Senator Taft-a favorite Of Mr..
McCormick-to win the presidential
nomination. Senator Taft, though
nursing some wounds from the pre-
convention battle in Ohio, has let
1t be known that he would not be
ayerse to Taft-Stassen ticket. The
question Is whether Mr.. Stassen
wants to run for Vice President with
Senator Taft, whose views he has
80 often opposed. The Democrats
might have a lot Of fun reproduc-
Ing on the radio some excerpts
from Stassen speeches disagreeing
with Senator Taft and some Taft
broadcasts disagreeing with Mr..
Stassen.
But the Taft forces are not the
only ones wooing Mr.. Stassen, who
will have a considerable strength
at the convention-not enough to-
win for himself the top place but
possibly enough to get second place
on the ticket.
Early in the preconvention cam
paign, there were suggestions Of
Dewey-Stassen ticket but it was
made clear, probably for tactical
purposes, that Mr.. Stassen wasn't
interested.
~. Moves With Deadlock.
II q deadlock occurs between the
Taft and Dewey groups and there
Is turn toward compromise
candidate such as Senator Vanden-
berg of Michigan, vice presidential
combinations may play an even
more influential part. Thus 1t seems
to be agreed that, If the Michigan
Senator Is nominated for the presi-
dency and elected, he would serve
only one term. This means that
the younger men in the party might
have a better chance at the presi-
Dental nomination four years from
now if Senator Vandenberg is
elected than if, for example. Gov.
Dewey is named Clearly if Gov.
Dewey is elected and makes any
kind of a record, he would logically
be entitled to denomination and
thus there would not be any chance
for Mr.. Stassen or for Gov. Warren
Of California until 1856. Lots of
other young candidates can dis
tinguish themselves and become
serious contenders for top honors
between now and the conventions
eight years hence.
Gov. Warren might well fit on
Q Vandenberg ticket. That could
mean that CALIFORNIA; big delega-
ton might hold off and swing to
Senator Vandenberg rather than
Gov. Dewey.
.oAs for the former Minnesota Gov
ernor, he has expressed himself
fayorably about Senator Vanden-
berg on many occasions. A VAN
denberg- Stassen ticket has frequent
ly been referred to as possibly the
strongest combination the Repub-
Acans could nominate this year.
:: There has also lately been talk OF
q Vandenberg-D Dewey ticket. Mr.
Dewey himself has indicated that
he wouldn't like to leave the New
York governorship to become Vice
President. The fact is, however, that
It. would put Gov. Dewey In line for
the 1852 presidential nomination or,
IT, fate took Senator Vandenberg
away during the four years for
which he might be elected. Gov.
Dewey would become President and
It would assure his nomination in
1852.
Affinity Between Groups.
Certainly there is much in COM
mon between the Dewey and VAN
denberg groups, just as there is a
Close affinity between the Vanden-
berg supporters and Stassens.
The part that vice-presidential
nomination plays in convention Is
sometimes obscured by the natural
hesitancy to admit that agreements
were made in advance. Actually
there has hardly been a national
convention in the past in which the
prospect of vice-presidential choice
going to a key, delegation has not
Influenced the selection Of a presi-
Dental nominee. 1t was the votes
Of Texas and California which
nominated Franklin D. Roosevelt
In 1882, and it was John Garner to
whom the delegations of those two
big States were originally pledged.
He released them to Mr.. Roosevelt,
thus insuring the necessary two
thirds vote that year.
To get a majority may be hard
this time for any of the leading
candidates at the Republican con-
vention. In the ranks of the candi-
dates are those who cannot muster
enough strength to get the nomina-
tion for themselves-yet one of their
number may be the "king+maker"
who will influence the choice of the
rOnventiop These men will deter |