Evening star., 1948-05-23
Victory in Oregon
Again Makes Dewey
TopG. Contender
By Gould Lincoln

Gov. Dewey of New York, by his
victory in Oregon's presidential
preferential primary over former
Gov. Stassen of Minnesota, estab-
lished himself again as the leading
contender for the Republican NOM
ination.
At the same time, the chances OF
Mr.. Stassen were materially dimin-
ished. The Dewey victory in terri
tory which a month ago the Stassen
camp looked forward confidently
to winning put an effectual STUN
bling block in the path Of the
hitherto fast-f1ying Minnesotan.
The New York Governor has de-
feated Mr.. Stassen in both State
primaries in which he and Mr.
Stassen were the only entries-New
Hampshire and oregon. Mr.. Stassen
on the other hand, defeated Gov
Dewey in Wisconsin, where a third
contestant was Gen. Douglas Mac
Arthur, and in Nebraska, where
seven foremost Republican presiden-
tial possibilities were entered.
Campaign Closely Watched.
The Dewey-Stassen campaign in
Oregon was followed with the Keen
est interest throughout the country
particularly as both Gov. Dewey
and Mr.. Stassen invaded the State
in an old-fashioned, almost door-to-
door, canvas for votes.
Probably an outstanding factor
in Fridays results was the Dewey
Stassen joint radio debate over out
laWing the Communist Party, with
Gov. Dewey taking the negative
The New Yorker clearly had the
better of the argument, and showed
himself better prepared and more
adroit. Not only did the debate
serve Gov. Dewey we'll in Oregon
but gave him great boost through
out the country, for it was broad
cast nationally.
Stassen managers pooh -poohed a
suggestion that the Oregon defeat
for their candidate had virtually
eliminated him as probable presi-
dental nominee. They insist that it
is a temporary reverse and that when
the Republican National Convention
opens in Philadelphia Mr.. StaSsen
will have as great if not greater
delegate strength than either Gov
Dewey or Senator Taft OF Ohio. his
principal opponents.
Stassen Victory Doubted.
A Stassen victory in Philadelphia,
at this point, is difficult to visualize.
Had Mf. Stassen won in Oregon,
the picture would have been vastly
different. and the Stassen camp
could with justice have continued
to claim that their candidate stood
alone as the strongest vote getter.
Senator Taft, in New York yes
terday, said at press conference
he would have more delegates on
the first ballot at the Republican
National Convention than any other
candidate, indicating it would be
in the neighborhood of 300. He in
sisted that the outcome of the Ore
gon primary-in which he was not
entered-had not affected his own
chances.
Although a majority of the 1904
delegates to the Republican conven-
ton in Philadelphia will be unin-
structed for any candidate, it is a
fact that greater number of dele
gates will be instructed, pledged or
otherwise committed to Gov. Dewey
without dispute than to either Mr.,
Stassen or Senator Taft.
Several Phases Past.
The pre- convention campaign has
run through several phases since
the first of the year. 1t was first
assumed that Gov. Dewey was out
in 'front.' that he was the candidate
who must be stopped" So strong
was this opinion-particularly in the
Dewey camp-that the New Yorker