Evening star., 1948-03-14

| ssAS ~ASV SAAs~4NA III AAA tAIC pIluldTy
However, the vote-getting abb
In the primaries. will have theil
psychological effect, both on publ,
opinion and upon the convention
delegates. It could easily be Z
cumulative effect, If one or two o,
the candidates did especially well.
The primaries may also have thei,
effect on the candidacy Of Presi.
dent Truman. In addition to these
States of the North and West
which hold Democratic primaries a.
well as Republican-two States o1
the South, Alabama and Florida
hold primaries on May 4. In these
States, the voters may spell out, il
they desire, the extent OF the revolt
against Mr.. Truman because of his
civil rights program. At one time
supporters of Henry Wallace had
planned to enter Wallace In the
primaries in California and Oregon
believing, they said, that Wallace
might win these delegations. But
Mr.. Wallace, having launched his
third party, turned thumbs down
on the idea. The Wallace can
didacy, however. may have its effect
in primary States OF keeping the
Truman vote low.
More Primaries Next Month
The first Of the primaries-that in
New Hampshire-was held last
Tuesday. Gov. Thomas E. Dewey
of New York won his first round
handily. His only opponent was
former Gov. Harold E. Stassen of
Minnesota. When all the votes had
been counted, Dewey had six dele
gates to the Republican National
Convention and Stassen two. It left
the New Yorker still holding the
leading position in the race for the
presidential nomination. Had Stas-
sen picked up three or four of these
New Hampshire delegates, it would
have been setback for the New
Yorker. As it was, Stassen dele
gates ran very close to some of the
Dewey supporters-but the Dewey
edge was there, and that's what
counts.
The other Republican primary
States and the order in which the
primary elections come are: New
York and Wisconsin. April 6; Illinois
and Nebraska, April 13; Massachu-
sets and Pennsylvania. April 27;
Maryland, May 8; Ohio, May 4;
West Virginia, May IL; Oregon, May
81; California, South Dakota and
New Jersey, June l. s.
These States and New Hampshire
will have total of 507 delegates in
the Republican National Conven-
tion-out of a total Of 1904. They
also have 240 votes in the electoral
college-Which determines who shall
be President and Vice President
out of total of 531. Obviously if
. single candidate could win the
preference of the Republican voters
n all these States, or even in con-
siderable number of them-and the
delegates along with the
oreference-he would be in an ex-
,remely strong position. However,
he primaries are so hedged about
With restrictions, some legal and
'ome merely growing out Of custom,
hat such result is virtually impos-
;ible.
Native Son Rights
For example, a State which has a
native son seeking the presidential
nomination is generally regarded as
hat candidates particular territory.
t is almost as though a sign. Keep
)ff the Grass" had been erected. !
n the first place, a favorite-son
andidate is supposed to be so strong
n his own State that it would be
hazardous for an outsider to tackle
lin there. Second, it is a matter of /
ourtesy on the part of other candi-
lates to abstain from. challenging a
anoidate in his own bailiwick. If
n outsider hopes to have the sup
bort Of the favorite son and his
riends at some time in the conven-
ion, it would be unwise to slap him
n the face.
Here are two cases in point this
'ear. Gov. Dewey-as strong as
lorse-radish in his own New York
'tate-will have no opposition in
ne primary election there. None of !
he other candidates, not even
Stassen who has entered more pri-
naries than any other candidate,
lad the temerity to tackle Dewey
n his own backyard.
On the other hand, Mr.. Stassen
las elected to challenge Senator
Taft of Ohio in Ohios primary.
'tassen delegate candidates have
'een entered in nearly a dozen dis
riots. and one delegate-at-large
'andidate is running pledged to the
crmer Governor of Minnesota. This
las enraged the Taft camp. Indeed,
senator Taft himself. in an elev-
nth-hour conference with Stassen,
Urged the latter not to enter the
ohio primary. But Mr.. Stassen went
light ahead and had his pledged
lelegates file.
The next primary-that holds
he seeds of great importance-is
n Wisconsin. Full states Of dele
,ates, pledged to Dewey, Stassen
md Gen. Douglas Macarthur have
,een entered.
Novel Plan in Nebraska 7
Gen. Macarthur, claimed by
as a distinguished son,
Ilthough he was born in Arkansas
where his father, Gen. Arthur Mac
Arthur, happened to be stationed
It the time, is in reality the "fav-
'rite-son" candidate there. A VIC
ory in Wisconsin for Macarthur,
therefore, Is REGARDED as sine !