Evening star., 1948-07-06

public ONCE or participate In parti-
san political contests.
This implies no intention Of
maintaining silence on any issue Of
importance to the country on which
I may feel qualified to express any
opinion
Dewey Is Silent.
The generals new statement
brought forth comment from party
leaders all over the Nation. How
ever, the Republican nominee, Gov.
Dewey of New York, had nothing to
say at his Pawling, N. Y, farm.
Another possible candidate for the
Democratic nomination, Justice
Douglas, was at his summer home
at Lostine, Greg. When asked If he
would be receptive to the proffer OF
the party's nomination his reply,
was q mo comment"
Justice Douglas did comment on
q statement by an unnamed aide
of President Truman that at least
some of those seeking to draft Gen.
Eisenhower were doing 50 as cover
for their activities on behalf OF
Justice Douglas.
Mr.. Douglas said that il such q
maneuver is afoot, he does not know
of it and is not party to 1t. The
comment was made before Gen.
Eisenhower's statement was released
last night.
Sparkman Expresses Regret.
In Washington, Senator Spark
man, Democrat, Of Alabama, one of
the most vocal of the Southern anti
Truman and pro- Eisenhower leaders,
expressed regret that the general
had taken himself out as far as he
did" The Senator said he wanted
to study the text of the statement
to determine just how far Gen.
Eisenhower really had gone.
Another of the Southerners Is
the anti-Truman camp, Gov. Jim
McCord of Tennessee, said he ire
gretted very much" to hear Of the
generals statement. Earlier he had
called Gen. Eisenhower an answer
to all the problems of the South"
Three leading northern Demo-
cratic chieftains associated with The
effort to dump President Truman
were not available for comment.
They were Mayor O'Dwyer of New
York, Mr.. Hague and Mr.. Arvey
Won't Close Headquarters.
In Philadelphia, Joseph Mach
man, the blouse manufacturer
operating the national Eisenhower
for President headquarters in the
convention city, said, I'VE are not
closing our headquarters"
His statement said:
THE lone ranger from Texas
cannot refuse the American people
their rights. Our people are hungry
and starved for leadership which
they hoped and prayed they had
discovered in the man Of the hour,
Eisenhower.
1--WE still have faith in his Amer
icanism and patriotism and are GER
tain that he will bow to the will Of
the people. We are not closing our
headquarters"
One leading Democratic figure
who expressed no surprise at Gen.
Eisenhower's latest declaration was
James A. Farley. The former ma
tional party chairman, a delegate
from New York to next weeks con-
vention, said:
Il wasn't at all surprised and 1t
was Just the kind of statement I
would expect a man of Gen. Eisen-
howers character to make, in view
of the very definite statement he
made in January"
Mitchelrs Attitude Unchanged.
Former Senator Mitchell who
will serve on the Democratic
Platform Drafting Committee at
the convention, had wired Mr..
Truman that lin the interests
of national unity and progress and
of world peace, may I respectfully
and earnestly urge you to assume
the leadership of the movement to
draft Dwight D. Eisenhower as the
Democratic nominee?"
He also had wired the general
urging him to accept "a draft CALI
from the convention. Before leav-
ing for Philadelphia by plane last
night, Mr.. Mitchell told reporters
at Seattle that his attitude was mot
changed one bit" by the generals
new statement.
Mr.. Mitchell said he had not dis
cussed the matter with Gov. Mon c.
Walgren, close friend OF the Pres
ident, who has frequently been men
toned as vice presidential run
ming mate.
Secretary of State Earl Coe, chair
man of the Washington States con-
vention delegation, declared that
MIR. Mitchell is speaking as an in
dividual and not as an official of the
party. Our delegation is pledged to
cast its first ballot for President
Truman. After that they are on
their own"
The governor was away from the
capital for the holidays and could
not be reached for comment.