Evening star., 1948-04-15
The Political Mill
Vigorous Campaigning
BY Stossen Paid Off
Nebraska and Wisconsin Victories
Boost Stock of Minnesotan
Bv Gould Lincoln

Harold E. stassen's vigorous campaigning
for the Republican presidential nomination has
brought results. Two primary victories, one
in Wisconsin and another in Nebraska. over
Gov. Dewey and Gen. Macarthur in the irst,
and ever Gov. Dewey and Senator Taft and
the other prominently mentioned possibilities
in the second. have boosted the stock Of the
former Governor of Minnesota tremendously.
1t should be remembered. however, that Gov.
Dewey of New York won both these primaries
in 1940-and he failed to be nominated. It
must be remembered also that while Mr.. Stas-
sen was getting 10 delegates in Wisconsin
Gov. Dewey was handed 80 in New York, and
that on the same day he carried the Nebraska
primary 50 delegates were elected in Illinois,
all expected to back Gov. Green Of that State.
There is no blinking the fact, however, that
the Mnnesotan, who before Wisconsin and
Nebraska was considered just shade stronger
than favorite-son candidate, has made him.
self foremost contender for the Republican
nomination. He has done it through hard and
constant campaigning, through meeting and
talking to and with thousands of voters. Inn
pressing them with his personality. He has held
no public Office since he left the Navy, in which
he served with distinction in the South Pa
tial nomination, his judgment will have been
justified, judgment which kept him from
running and being elected to the Senate, as he
might have done in 1916.
stin Faces High Hurdles.
Mr.. Stassen, however, has still high hurdles to
leap. He has boldly challenged Senator Taft
in the Ohio primary May 4, entering 20 dis
trict delegate candidates and one delegate-at-
1orc Ioto oJtll tn 1x,S,,
8 or 10 of these delegate contests, 1t will be
great feather in his cap. If he wins only four
or five, it will be gain but not major one.
The late Senator Borah of Idaho, campaigning
in Ohio in 1886, won four delegates against
Senator Taft, who then was Q favorite-son
candidate.
The MinneSotan also must make good in
Oregon's primary May 81, where he will meet
Gov. Dewey again. In the only primary he
has contested In the East, New Hampshire,
Mr.. Stassen won only two delegates to six for
Gov. Dewey.
In addition to boosting Mr.. Stassens
chances, the Nebraska primary was a wet
smack for Gov. Dewey, whose strength as q
presidential candidate has lain in his vote
getting ability in such States as Nebraska and
Wisconsin. What his defeats in these States
will mean in the overall picture remains to be
seen. Gov Dewey has strong friends in
Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, many Of
whom have already been chosen delegates.
When they get their second wind, they may
still see the New Yorker as stronger than Mr..
Stassen for the long pull.
The majority Of the delegates to the Re-
publican National Convention are elected In
conventions-not in primaries. How many OF
these convention-elected delegates Mr.. Stassen
may garner is still conundrum. He has CAM
paigned In States of the South, where both
Senator Taft and Gov. Dewey have reported
strength.
Body Blow for Taft.
One thing is certain, both Gov Dewey and
Senator Taft may be expected to exert every
effort from now on to win delegate strength.
There are many States with large delegations
whose delegates Mr.. Stassen must gain If he
is to be nominated-among them California,
Pennsylvania, Illinois and Michigan.
The Nebraska primary was body blow for
Senator Taft, who ran a poor third. 1t laid
emphasis on the old cliche that Taft would
make a fine President but he cannot b
elected"
On the other hand, the Nebraska free-for-
all proved boon to those who hope in the
end to nominate Senator Vandenberg Of Mich
igan for President The Michigan Senator
denied he was a candidate and asked his
friends not to vote for him. Yet he ran
fourth-ahead of Gen. Macarthur, Gov. War
rem and Speaker Martin.
The Nebraska primary was novel expert
nlent, since for the first time all the principal
candidates for the presidential nomination
were entered-with or without their consent