Evening star., 1948-04-25
keynofer Choice Stirs
Talk Of Gov. Green
For Vice Presidency
By Gould Lincoln

The selection Of Gov. Green OF
Illinois, to be temporary chairman
and keynote speaker of the Republi-
can National Convention in June
has stirred speculation about the
Republican vice presidential nomi-
nation which, according to reports,
the Illinois Governor would be de-
lighted to have
If Gov. Green Is to have the Sec
ond place, presumably it will be
with presidential nominee from
the East or the Far West. He would
fit into the picture as running mate,
for example, with Gov. Dewey of
New York. The Illinois Governor Is
a warm personal friend Of Gov.
Dewey.
There is a catch in it, however
Gov. Green will be expected to de-
liver a good part Of the Illinois dele
CATION to Senator Taft Of Ohio,
when balloting for the presidential
nomination gets underway. Sena-
tor Taft is the fair-haired boy, SO
far as Col. Robert Mccormick,
publisher of the Chicago Tribune,
is concerned. Col. Mccormick, who
does not like Gov. Dewey, has a
very considerable political influence
with some of the Illinois RepubH-
cans, including Gov. Green.
Green a Compromise.
Gov. Green was chosen to be
temporary chairman OF the conven-
ton as a compromise in which both
Senator Taft and Gov. Dewey joined
and to which Harold e. Stassen
voiced no objection. At the f1rst
conference of the members OF the
committee on arrangements, which
selects the temporary and perma-
nent chairmen, it was decided to
name Senator Millikin, OF Colorado,
temporary chairman and House
Speaker Martin permanent chair
man. This was before the Dewey
forces in the committee were fully
represented. At conference later,
the Dewey forces turned thumbs
down on Millikin because he had
said he was in favor of the nomina-
ton of Senator Taft for President.
It had been urged on the COM
mittee that the keynote speaker
should come from west of the Mis-
sissippi, and Senator Millikin met
that qualification. After it had
been decided that Senator Millikin
could not have the job, Senators
Wherry of Nebraska and Cain OF
Washington were considered, but
the choice finally went to Gov.
Green.
At the outset, Kenneth Bradley,
national committeeman from Con-
necticut, had offered Senator Bald
win of that State for keynoter.
Since it was certain that Speaker
Martin, who is from Massachusetts,,
was to be permanent chairman, it
was impossible to put across either
Senator Baldwin or another New
Englander, Senator Lodge of Mas
sachusetts, whose name also had
been mentioned.
The willingness of the Taft and
Dewey forces to take Gov. Green
has led to still further discussion of
the possibility of some kind of
working understanding between
them to stop the nomination of Mr.
Stassen, If and when the time comes
for, such action. ,.r, - ~
Taft-Dewey Combine Urged. .u5
Where. they would go from there,
h e ho
been urged that, after several
ballots, Senator Taft and Gov.
Dewey should canvass the situation,
determine which is the stronger, and
in order not to force knockdown,
dragout contest, combine to give him
the nomination. 1t is entirely pos
sible, however, that Mr.. Stassen's
increase in strength might vitiate
any such plan, and that if any agree
ment were reached, it would have to
be made with Mr.. Stassen.
There is a possibility, too, that if
Gov. Dewey continues to show con-
siderable strength in the balloting.
he might come to some agreement
with Gov. Warren of California and
Gov. Green, both of whom will have
large delegations behind them. Gov
Warren, a candidate for President
has repeatedly stated he has no de-
sire to become a vice presidential
nominee.
Gov. Green, like Gov. Dewey, first
achieved prominence as prosecu-
tor. He tackled AL Capone and had
much to do with that gangster's
downfall. He has twice been elected