Evening star., 1948-03-02
Vondenberg Can T oiience
Discussion of Candidacy
Public Is Looking for Executive Who
Knows World Problems
s.- Rv GouJI :occIss
The Political Mn
BY Gould Lincoln

Senator Arthur n. vandenberg Of Michigan,
try as he will, is unable to down discussion
OF himself as q potential-and extremely po-
tential at that-nominee for President at the
hands of the coming Republican National Con-
vention As chairman Of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee he came up the other day
with unanimous report on the European Re.
covery Program bill, which had been rewritten
on lines approved by Senator vandenberg A
few days later, opening the debate on this
measure in the Senate. he put up plea for
its passage so strong that 1t leaves the oppo-
sition literally hanging on the ropes. At the
conclusion Of his address, the Michigan Senator
was given an ovation by his colleagues-an
occurrence rare in Senate annals.
Coupled with all this Is the fact that inter.
national relations and the foreign policy Of the
United States-with the alternatives Of peace
or war hanging in the balance-are thrusting
themselves further and further into public at.
tention, seeming to demand as the executive
head Of the Government a man who knows the
problems and their answers.
Yet Senator Vandenberg has declared he II
not candidate-and will not become candi-
date-for the presidential nomination He has
said it many times in many ways. He has
even written it. He insists he has tremendous
Job and that he can best serve the country by
carrying on where he is. Never, yet however.
has he slammed the door by saying he would
not accept nomination If the national con-
vention should draft him
Has Plenty Of Support.
For months 1t has been obvious to any who
cared to inquire that the Michigan Senator.
who has become one of the great figures in
Congress, has plenty of support in many sec
tions Of the country for presidential nomina-
ton, If he would give the nod. But he never
will. If the Republicans want him for their
candidate next November, they will have to
make all the motions themselves without his
assistance
Today, the leading candidate for the Repub-
hcan presidential nomination is Gov. Dewey
of New York. With Senator vandenburg de-
clining to make race for the honor. it is
clear that the Michigan lawmaker will have
no chance for the nomination unless the Taft,
Stassen, Warren and "favorite-son" supporters
are strong enough to stop" Gov. Dewey and
tie up the convention But let that happen
and the probabilities are strong that Senator
Vandenberg would leap into the lirnelight and
become the choice of the convention. This
decidedly is not what the Tafts, Stassens and
others desire. But, with Gov. Dewey out
and unable to win the nomination, it seems
unlikely the nomination would go to any one
Of the candidates who had successfully dead
locked the convention against the New
Yorker.
Furthermore, the Dewey lead may become 50
great that>a deadlock will be impossible in
the convention Next Tuesday the New York
Governor matches strength with former Gov.
Stassen of Minnesota in the New Hampshire
vic fIa Rrcf ta ha hall nola 70
didates favoring each Of these men are run
ming. If Gov. Dewey cleans up, or gets more
than half of the New Hampshire delegation.
his stock will rise. 1t will be said that the
old Dewey sentiment, plus lot of new senti-
ment because of his great administration Of
New York's State government, is on the march
again. And should such performance be re-
peated in Wisconsin and Oregon and Nebraska,
the Dewey bandwagon would get rolling swiftly.
Both Michigan Natives.
Gov. Dewey like Senator Vandenburg Is q
native of Michigan. He and Senator Vanden-
berg have been very friendly. Gov. Dewey
has made no effort to line up Michigan dele
gates holding they should be left free to sup
port the Senator If they desire. He has
sought, however, second choice favor there.
1t is logical that he should receive it.
Senator Vandenberg, for his part, has
earnestly requested the Michigan Republican
organization not to send a delegation to the
national convention to vote for him. But
there, too he may not be able to steer away
his friends. His most recent appeal was made
yesterday, in a telegram to Raymond A. Nc
Connell, jr., editor of the Nebraska State Jour.
nal, who has headed drive to have all poten-
tial presidential nominees entered in the
Nebraska presidential preferential primary,
He said he was not candidate and very
earnestly urged that his name be omitted. Il
deeply hope you will respect my wishes in this
matter" Senator Vandenberg said.
Nevertheless, should Gov. Dewey fail to make
the grade the Republicans may be expected
to turn to Senator Vandenberg.
Questions and Answers