Evening star., 1948-11-14

of some OF their leaders folloWS
be written by the Republicans in
house. AL are on the progressive
side.
The immediate future, however,
is what is giving Republicans con-
Germ. They realize that until the
legislative program of the Truman
administration has been spelled out,
it would be folly to try to write a
statement of Republican principles
and policies. They can, however, do
something about new look for the
party in the selection of the party
leaders in Congress and the Sen
ators and Representatives who are
to make up the Republican side of
important Republican committees.
With the retirement of Senator
White of Maine at the end OF the
present Congress, the job OF Repub-
lican floor leader becomes vacant.
During the last year, the Republic
can leadership, as far as domestic
issues were concerned, devolved
upon Senator Taft, who has been
chairman of the Policy Committee
or Steering Committee-of the SEN
ate and upon Senator Wherry Of
Nebraska, Republican whip. MIR.
Wherry, it is known, has hanker-
ing to be Republican leader himself
and may challenge Senator Taft for
the Office If the Ohioan Is candi-
date. But in the thinking Of a very
considerable group Of liberal-minded
younger Republican Senators the
thing to do Is to get rid entirely
of the -Wherry leadership, on
the ground that Senators Taft and
Wherry are both regarded not only
as conservatives but as reaction-
aries. There is in the making first
class row among the Senate Repub-
licans over this leadership matter.
Vandenberg Has Seniority
Senator Vandenberg of Michigan
may be the answer to the prayer OF
these younger Republicans. Some Of
them believe that Mr.. Vandenberg,
who has been the Republican Bible
on foreign affairs, will now again
take keen interest in domestic is-
sues. They point out that he has
the seniority to demand any posi-
ton of leadership he may determine.
for in continuous service he OUT
ranks all Republican Senators in
the new Congress. Whether he cares
to take over the arduouS duties Of
floor leader is doubted, but he
would, in the opinion of some Re-
publicans, be an ideal choice for
chairman of the Policy Committee
of the Senate.
There has been SO far no crystal
ization of thought on the Senate
leadership among the Republicans.
There will be some who will insist
that Taft, as the outstanding
brain" of the Senate, should be
put in a place of leadership lin
this Congress he has been chairr
man of the Policy Committee). Those
who care neither for Taft nor Wherry
as leaders are speaking privately
of Senator Saltonstal of Massa-
chusets. There are other able young.
er Republicans, too, but the selec-
ton of any one of them for i'm
portant leadership posts would do
violence to the seniority rule.
Among those younger men are Sena-
tors Knowland of California, Ives
of New York, Baldwin of Con.
necticut and Lodge of Massachu-
sets. Senator Lodge interrupted his
service to enter the Army during
the recent war, and was elected
again in 1916.
Senator Millikin of Colorado.
chairman of the Senate Finance
Committee and also of the Republic
can caucus of the Senate, while he
has trained under Taft leadership
in the present Congress, hasn't the
conservative label to the degree 1t
is attached to Taft and Wherry, and
he may continue to figure largely in
the Republican organization.
New England Progressives
New England, considered tradi-
tionally conservative, is providing
the Senate with more and more lib
eral and progressive Republicans.
The Midwest, on the other hand, has
more of old stand-pat type. From
New England come Senators Aiken
and Flanders of Vermont, Bridges
and Tobey of New Hampshire, Lodge
and Saltonstall of Massachusetts,.
Baldwin of Connecticut-and in the
new Congress, Mrs. Margaret Chase
Smith of Maine-all of them rated
as progressive minded.
Taking stock, the Republicans
find that they made closer race
for President than at any time
since 1928. They carried 16 States
with total of 189 electoral votes as
compared to IL States with SO elec.
toral votes in 1914. They have in
the new Congress ~ Republican.
Senators and I'll Republican mem.
bers of the House. The Democrats
would have lost the presidential
election had 100000 votes in five
States been shifted from the DEM
ocratic to the Republican column.
Decidedly, the Republicans are not
thinking of giving up the ghost and
passing out of the picture. The
Democratic victory, hailed as great
sweep, must rely for its greatness
largely on its unexpectedness.
The Republican leaders are talk
Ing about making their party a
propresSiye.c e.conservatiye" partv in.