Evening star., 1948-06-14
Democratic Strategy
Held Threat 10 Weak
Republican Nominee
Trumon Could Swing
Support to Eisenhower
For November Victory.
By David Laurence

4Ilc ulO6t OUNlOuS 4eCCOT dUOuI
the two national conventions and
yet the one that seems to have been
analyzed the least is the strategy
which caused the Democrats to de-
eide to hold their gathering two
weeks after the Republicans.
That two-week interval may be-
come the most important period Of
ala fateful time in which the out
come of the election itself may be
decisively Influenced.
Up to now the Republicans have
felt certain they would win in No
vember no matter who is nomi-
mated. But this has been assumed
on the theory that President Tru-
man would be the Democratic NOM
inee and that Henry Wallace would
/stay in the race. f.
But nothing is cut and dried in
American politics-this year, least
Of all. 1t is necessary to make some
other assumptions.
Eisenhower Is Mentioned.
First, If Speaker Martin is named
as the result of pressure by the
"isolationists "nationansts," as
they prefer to call themselves
what would the Democratic Party
do? The cry would arise from all
factions Of the party that the Dem
ocrats must put up their strongest
possible candidate.
This means that President Tru-
man would be urged to step aside.
1t might even happen that, by pre-
arrangement, he would be given
the nomination and would then
decline and place In nomination
some one else. The name most
often heard Is that of Gen. Dwight
Eisenhower. Curiously enough, the
generals name has been proposed
again and again by the left wing
groups in the party, so it appears
that they, who would naturally be
expected to object to q military
man, would accept him. The
certainty that Gen. Eisenhower
would sweep the country would be
the determining factor.
How could Gen. Eisenhower be
persuaded to run? In his letter
he spoke of some obvious and
overriding reason" that could cause
him to accept . draft. What more
Overriding" reason could there be
than the possibility that the United
States would repudiate the Mar
shall Plan and revert to an "isola-
zionist" position? Whether or not
one agrees that this is q Just i'm
plication from the choice Of q can
didate like Speaker Martin, 1t Ger
tainly would afford the Democrats
a chance to persuade Mr.. Truman
to retire and Gen. Eisenhower to
run.
Vandenberg Would Alter Strategy
Let it be assumed, on the other
hand, that some one with, the inter.
nationalist view-Senator Vanden.
berg, for examples nominated
What then would the Democrats
do? 1t is certain that Gen. Eisen-
hover would net then accept NOM
ination-in fact, 1t Is reported that
he might come out in support OF
the Michigan Senator. Since Sen
ator Vandenberg is . strong can
didate, this must inevitably renew
intensely the pressure among the
Democrats to persuade President
Truman not to run. The necessity
for nominating q strong man who
could: give Senator Vandenberg q
real race. and perhaps persuade Mr.
Wallace to withdraw, would then
become paramount.
BY reason of the fact that the
Democrats have two weeks to think
things over after the Republican
convention has been held, the out
come Of the Democratic convention
cannot be regarded as . foregone
conclusion, even though it is known
now that Mr.. Truman has . ma
jority Of the delegates. He can ex-
ercise control Of majority in his
own behalf or for some other can
didate.
There are hints from the Pres.
ident's encourage in the West that
despite his outward show of con.
fidence, Mr.. Truman is well aware
Of the opposition to him in his own
party. The formula that has to be
found is one that apparently vindi-
Gates him and doesn't humiliate
him.
The answer could be 4 compli-
mentary nomination by acclama.
ton and then a nominating speech,
by the President himself, asking
the convention to name the can
didate who can best unite all fac
tions of the party.
1t could happen. The Republicans
would be foolish to assume that 1t
couldn't happen. They would be ILL.,
advised to nominate a weak can
didate on the mistaken assumption
that Mr. Truman and Mr.. Wallace
will be their opponents.
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