Evening star., 1948-04-11
Meant Every Word,
Eisenhower Asserts;
Martin Boom Seen

speculation arose that Speaker
Martins chances for the GOF
nomination have been improved by
his peacemaking efforts in the coal
strike.
I'm not talking any more" Gen
Eisenhower told reporters after a
call at the White House. II find II
doesn't do any good. I told my aides
they could do the talking from now
on"
This was in reply to request
for a direct statement from the
general to confirm what his aides
have been saying: That he would
not be available for a presidential
nomination on any ticket.
Landon Praises Martin.
Speaker Martins role as a peace
maker in the pension fight between
John L. Lewis and the coal opera
tors drew praise from ALT M. Landon
the 1886 Republican candidate. Mr.
Landon told reporters:
That shows why Martin would
make good President OF the United
States"
Mr.. Landon talked politics with
the House speaker shortly after Mr.
Martin brought Mr.. Lewis and Ezra
Van Horn into an agreement that
might lead to an early end to the
coal dispute.
Senator McGrath of Rhode Is.
land, the Democratic nationa.
chairman, said the circumstances
involving congressional intervention
In the coal strike "are obviously the
result of an effort on the part OF
Mr.. Lewis to extricate himself from
his predicament."
Without mentioning Speaker Mar.
tin by name, Sen. McGrath said In
a statement that "in his customary
dynamic manner Lewis has been
able to get cooperation of some OF
the members Of the legislative
branch Of the Government.
Sees Dangerous Precedent.
That, in Senator McGrath's ex-
pressed opinion, sets "a dangerous
precedent that makes more difficult
the execution of the laws of Con-
gress by the executive branch"
Although Speaker Martins action
In the coal strike focused renewed
political attention upon him, the
politicians regard him as something
Of a long shot right now.
There has been talk of turning to
Mr.. Martin should a deadlock de-
velop at the Republican convention
between such front runners IS Gov
Dewey of New York and Senator
Taft Of Ohio.
A reporter told the Speaker that
his venture into labor peacemaking
was going to be interpreted as "a
master political stroke" and asked
his present attitude toward the
nomination.
Reiterates Position.
my position has been uttered a
thousand times" the Speaker said.
I'm not a candidate. OF course, if
the public and the people should
want me for the nomination,
would not refuse.
mo man who is active In politics
could refuse the nomination and
stay active in politics"
The point came up that perhaps
Mr.. Lewis might have had a hand
in arranging the conference in
Speaker Martins Office yesterday
with the idea of handing slap to
the administration and a nice po-
htical plum to the Republicans.
But the Speaker told reporters the
only person with whom he had dis
cussed his settlement plan in ad-
vance was Senator Bridges, Repub-
lican, of New Hampshire.
Obtained Bridges Consent.
He got Senator Bridges to agree
to serve as the third and neutral
member of a board of trustees
handling miner pension problems.
And he got Mr.. Lewis and Mr.. Van
Horn to agree that Senator Bridges
would be acceptable.
Prior to Gen. Eisenhower's state
ment yesterday, similar word from
Mai. Gen. Floyd Parks, Army press
relations chief, failed to quiet talk
in both parties booming like" for
the presidency.
Gen. Eisenhower has retired as
Army Chief of Staff to assume the
presidency of Columbia University
in June. He wore his f1ve-star Army
uniform to make a half-hour call
on President Truman. He said the
call was not about politics but about
the Nations defense.
"The President" he continued,
wanted to talk about the general
layout" and the subject of balance"
in it. On this, he added, the Presi-
dent. Secretary of Defense Forrestal
and himself are in general accord.
THE President authorized me to
say this, so I am not talking out of
school," he said smiling.
Will Say Nothing More.
Then, when a reporter told him
that political statements by Army
aides were not being believed and
some Of his supporters wanted a
direct statement from him, the gen.
eral promptly replied:
"I made up my mind to say moth
ing more. I wrote letter and meant
every word of it."
He referred to his January %
letter to Leonard v. Finder, Man
chester IN. H. publisher. In it
he said he could not accept a
nomination and his decision to
completely remove" himself from
politics was positive and definite" "
Meanwhile, Representative Miller,
Republican, of Nebraska stuck with
his efforts toward getting the Re-
publicans to nominate Gen.
Macarthur. Mr.. Miller said Gen.
MacArthur's failure to win more
than eight Wisconsin delegates did
not kill his chances.
HE is still a very live candidate
and his organization in the United
States will continue working in his
behalf" Mr.. Miller told the Asso-
ciated Press.
Draft Move to Continue.
Following Gen. Eisenhower's visit
to the White House. the national
headquarters of Veterans For Eisen-
hover issued statement which said: