Evening star., 1948-06-15
Dewey and Taft Seen
Equally Strong With
6. 0. P. Delegates
Stossen Role Nay Prove
Most Influential and
Decisive in Nomination

Most Influential and
Decisive in Nomination
BY David Laurence
Within the next 10 days the game
of political maneuvering that goes
on behind the scenes among the
delegates to a national convention
will disclose the difference between
actual claims that have substance
and wishful thinking by the friends
and supporters Of the leading candi-
dates for the Republican presi-
dental nomination.
At this wtkng, Gov. Dewey Of
New York aIIa Senator Taft Of Ohio
have approximately equal strength
among the delegates for the first
ballot or two. The question of how
solid or substantial is the strength
OF each of these two candidates can
not be told in advance by can
vass of delegates. The customary
pledges of first and second choices
are so hedged with qualifications
that it may be said that, as of today,
there is no certainty about the out
come at all.
The danger to the Taft forces
Is that inside their ranks are sew
eral influential men who really
would like to nominate Senator
Bricker. The utmost loyalty to
Senator Taft is professed but never
theless there are indications OF
desire to try out Senator Bricker
If Senator Taft fails. :
Want Strength Intact.
It Is natural for these conserva-
tives to want to hold the Taft
strength intact if the senior Ohio
Senator cannot make the grade In
the first few ballots. Logic, how
ever, would seem to bear out the
assertion that If Taft can't win the
nomination, then certainly some
one more conservative than he
namely, the junior Senator from
Ohio, John Bricker-might have an
even more difficult time corralling
a majority.
Once the Taft strength starts
to disintegrate-assuming that the
Bricker enthusiasts begin to pull 1t
apart-there are chances that some
of the Taft group will want to go
to Gov. Dewey rather than to a
nationalist" Even though the
number may be small, it could re-
suit in a substantial increase for
Gov. Dewey and start the band
wagon" going for the New York
candidate.
Only If, after several ballots, the
Taft-Bricker strength doesn't 60
over to the Dewey side and the
Stassen delegates remain firm
against Gov. Dewey will it be neces-
sary for the convention to try a
compromise, with Senator Van
denberg of Michigan as the most
likely beneficiary.
AS of today, Gov. Dewey has
strength which be didn't have a
month ago. Victory in the Oregon
primary boosted his stock. But
whether he has enough to win sup
port from other delegations now on
the fence remains to be seen.
The two points of hesitancy about
Gov. Dewey are these: First, he has
given an impression of opportunism
which makes many conservatives
fear his administration might be-
come Republican edition Of the
New Deal and, second, he is not as
strong on the international side as
either Senator Vandenberg or Mr..
StaSsen.
Chances Now Equal.
The second of these two points
might help Gov. Dewey. as against
Senator Vandenberg, with the "Iso-
lationists" or Nationalist" of the
kind who are behind the Bricker
candidacy. In a swing toward Gov.
Dewey by the delegates who think
he would be likely to approve less
money for European aid than Sena-
tor Vandenberg or Mr.. Stassen,
there is a chance that enough votes
might be obtained by the New York
governor to win the nomination. At
the moment, his chances of winning
the nomination are at least equal
to those of anybody else.
There is much talk Of Speaker
Martin as dark horse" This is
based on the theory that, II neither
Senators Taft nor Bricker can make
the grade, the convention could be
stampeded for the Speaker Of the
House.
Many of the "Old Line" regulars
In the Republican Party are living
in the past If they think the 1948
convention will nominate either an
"Isolationist" or Nationalist" or
an ultraconservative candidate. The
convention delegates will lean more
toward the "Internationalist" than
the Nationalist" side. The primar-
les have indicated such trend. The
Stassen vote reflects a considerable
internationalism in the party. So
does the strength of the Vandenberg
group.
The former Minnesota governor
could exercise a veto over Senators
Taft or Bricker or Speaker Martin
by holding his delegates together
until a nominee Is chosen who is
satisfactory on international issues.
A Vandenberg-Stassen ticket might
be hard for the Nationalist" to
accept, but 1t may be natural re-
action from maneuvers to nominate
a Nationalist" The Stassen role
may prove most influential and de-
cisive
Reproduction Rights Reserved)