Evening star., 1948-04-08
Wisconsin Primary
Shows Soldier 5 Fame
Has But Little Magic
vundenbers and stossen
COP. Ticket Seen Likely
Despite Toft and Dewey
By David Laurence


failed in the Wisconsin primary in
1914, he withdrew from the precon-
vention race for the Republican
nomination. Wisconsin is by no
means conclusive in testing candi-
dacies, but the latest primary ap-
pears to have settled one thing,
anyway. It is that there is no magic
In q soldiers fame which enables
him to win merely by having his
name and nothing else presented
to the voters.
Gen. Macarthur had powerful
backing In Wisconsin-the whole
La Toilette strength. But it wasn't
enough. The presence in Wisconsin
of former Gov. Harold Stassen, OF
Minnesota, who campaigned actively
and expressed himself on every
issue of Importance, Was more ap-
pealing to the voters.
The primary in Wisconsin doesn't
mean that Mr.. Stassen is in or any
where near victory. But his tri-
umpn will earn him far more pres
tige and support than he had before
the Wisconsin primary was held. 1t
could mean that, in the end, he
will be second on the Republican
ticket.
*a Principal Contenders.
> The principal contenders still are
Senator Taft and Gov. Dewey. If
neither can command majority
OF the delegates, Senator Vanden-
berg is the logical compromise. A
vandenberg- -Stassen ticket is often
suggested hereabouts. In fact, some
supporters Of Senator Taft say
they wouldn't object to . Taft
Stassen ticket. /
so far as the former Governor Of
Minnesota is concerned, he will not
look favorably on any second-place
proposals. He is out to win first
place. His strategy will be to en-
phasize that point. But the Re-
publican National Convention is not
going to be influenced by the out
come of the primaries as whole
except In an abstract sense. A vote
getting record in the primaries will
be considered important in apprais-
ing a candidates ability to attract
votes In the autumn election. The
Republican delegates will, in the
next convention, think Of the man
who appeals to the Republican
Party as a whole.
At this moment, former Gov.
Stassen Is not strong with the
type Of delegates who usually make
up a majority of the Republican
National Convention. He is con-
sidered far more to the cleft" than
Gov. Dewey, and there are con-
servatives who want Senator Taft
because they feel Gov. Dewey is also
too New Dealish. Actually, both Gov.
Dewey and Mr.. Stassen represent
the liberal" wing Of the Republican
Party, though they are closer to the
conservative point Of view than
many conservatives realize.
First Convention Fight.
Anyway, tIe first struggle at the
convention is going to be between
Senator Taft and Gov. Dewey.
Both men have been cautious about
international issues and have not
been out-and-out internationalists
such as Mr.. Stassen has boldly pro-
claimed himself to be. If there Is a
chance for Stassen's delegates to
influence the result of the ballot
ing, it will be to throw their
strength to some one other than
either Senator Taft or Gov. Dewey.
If the opportunity arises, 1t Is nat
ural for the Stassen delegates to
get behind Senator Vandenberg.
especially II the Minnesotan isn't
making enough headWay to win the
nomination for himself.
1t seems unlikely at the present
time that convention which Is
made up Of majority OF delegates
favoring the Dewey and Taft view
point on international or domestic
affairs would be ready to accept
Stassen. Much as the Republican
spokesmen try to give the impress
sion of harmony, the party is split
between those who saw the Marshall
Plan as a necessity from the start
and those who reluctantly agreed
and really do not believe in inter-
national aid such as Is envisaged in
the European Recovery Program.
Inside the Dewey camp, however,
are delegates who would be in
clined to go to Senator Vandenberg
rather than Senator Taft on inter-
national issues. Inside the Taft
camp are delegates who, in a choice
between Gov. Dewey and Senator
Vandenberg, would choose the lat
ter for policy reasons. But
the combined Taft and Dewey
strength will hold the majority of
the delegates and that's what will
count in the final analysis. A VAN
denberg- -Stassen ticket looks likely
on this date-less than 80 days be-
fore the Republican National Con-
vention Is called to order.
lReproduction Rights Reserved)