Evening star., 1948-03-04
The Political Mil
Stossen Campaign Meets
First TestNext Tuesdoy
A Victory in New Hampshire Primary
Would be Body Blow to Dewey
By Gould Lincoln

~ oUHto AtUCUbW
CONCORD, N. H., Mar. 4-Harold r stas.
sens slam-bang campaign for the Republican
presidential nomination meets its first test In
New Hampshire next Tuesday. It took real
courage on the part Of Minnesotas former
Governor to lock horns with Gov. Dewey Of
New York in this State where Gov Dewey has
had strong support in the past. Particularly
since New Hampshires primary-for the elec.
ton OF delegates to the Republican National
Conventon-is the first to be held and a de-
feat right at the start Of the preconvention
campaign would be body blow.
With infinite care and great deal of hard
work. however, the stassen forces have lined
up complete slate of delegate candidates
Mr.. Stassen himself has invaded the State on
several occasions, and during the final week
OF the campaign has hurried from place to
place, making speeches-and incidentally,
making friends. He was practically an un-
known to the great mass Of Republican voters
AS compared to the New York Governor, who
has campaigned here at least twice before
and whose outstanding record as Governor of
New York has been credited with adding to his
strength.
Psychological Effect Seen.
Veteran New Hampshire politicians frankly
admit they are astounded at the amount of
interest which the race between Gov Dewey
and Mr.. Stassen has stirred up both inside and
outside the State. They realize that New
Hampshire has only eight delegates small
delegation in a convention which will number
almost 1,l00 delegates But the test of popu-
larity among the rank-and-file voters provided
IN the primary here Is expected to have much
psychological effect on the rest of the country.
Obviously, If Gov. Dewey should sweep the
primaries 1t would not only be blow for the
Stassen candidacy but it would start the Dewey
band wagon rolling.
Here is the situation as some of the most
astute politicians in both camps see 1t. Gov.
Dewey must win at least out of the dele
gates places or his prestige will suffer a loss. ,
This Is precisely what Dewey leaders expect
the New Yorker to do on primary day. Some
of them have hopes that the Dewey sweep will
be even greater. AS for the Stassenites they
are claiming at least 3 delegate seats, and
some of them insist the Minnesotan will wind
up with or even 5. But that last Is hopeful .
thinking, according to the more conservative
and less partisan observers
The race is greatly complicated by the fact
that both the Dewey and stassen states of
delegate candidates include outstanding figures
in the Republican Party Of New Hampshire.
gates at-large and four district delegates-two
from each congressional district. The Dewey
slate for delegates-at is Gov. Charles M.
Dale former Gov. Robert O. Blood, Robert w.
Upton vice chairman Of the Republican State
Committee, and j. Walker Wiggin, Speaker of
the State House, formidable array.
The opposing slate of Stassen candidates for
elegates-at-large is composed of Frank ].
Sulloway, Republican national committeeman:
Robert P. Burroughs former Republican ma
tional committeeman; former Representative
Foster Stearns, and Earl S. Hewitt publisher
Of Enfield.
Popularity Contest.
The sixty-four- dollar question Is how much
dragging power will the individual candidates
have in their own right, and how much will
the voters be Influenced by Gov. Dewey on the
one hand and Mr.. Stassen on the other.
In a measure this personaI-popularity contest
of the individual delegate candidates prevents
a straight out test of the Dewey and Stassen
strength. 1t is asserted by the Dewey forces,
however that If just the names Of Gov. Dewey
and Mr. Stassen were printed on the ballot in
a presidential preference contest, Gov. Dewey
would win 2 to /.
Gov. Dewey apparently has strong organi-
zation working for him in the State.
With the Governor on his side, 1t may be
expected that the State House employees will
give the New Yorker more than an even break.
Further, there is large Dewey for President
Committee at work. Mr. Stassen has a like
committee working for him. with two former
Governors among its members, Messrs. Spauld-
ing and Bass Both sides apparently are we'll
heeed and are spending plenty of money for
newspaper advertising, radio time and mailing
Of literature.