Evening star., 1948-01-27
The Political Mil
Gloves Off in Republican
Bottle for Nomination
Stassen Move in Ohi6 Against Taft
Ends Idea of Joint Fight on Dewey
Bv Gould L;ncoln

By Gould Lincoln
The gloves are OF for what is shaping up an
one Of the most hard-fought contests for a Re-
publican presidential nomination In years
Minnesotas Harold Stassen's announcement hs
Is going into Ohio to try to wrest DELEGATES
from Senator Taft is particularly indicative.
1t was only few months ago that stories were
being written about the friendliness between
the former Minnesota Governor and the Ohio
Senator-that they were planning to stand to-
gether in an effort to sink the candidacy Of
Gov. Dewey Of New York, and that they might
eventually wind up as the head and tail of the
COP national ticket All that seems to be in
the discard now although probably both of
these gentlemen would do their utmost to pre-
vent the nomination Of the New York Gov.
ernor.
The TAFT people say they are perfectly will
Ing to take Mr.. Stassen on in Ohio-though 1t
is privately admitted he might pick Np dele
gate or two In district or two OF the Buckeye
State, districts In which Senator Taft is not too
strong Mr.. Stassen however, is putting one
delegate-at-large in the contest in Ohio, which
will give some idea Of the relative strength Of
the two men with the rank and file of the
voters the State over. Any way you look at 1t,
this is not chubby thing to do to the Ohio
Senator.
1886 Primary Recalled
Back In 1895 before Taft was Senator, he was
put forward as Ohio's favorite son candidate
for the presidential nomination The late
Senator "Bnl" Borah Of Idaho declaring he in
tended to give the Republicans in Ohio chance
to vote for liberal Republican If they wanted
to. jumped into the Ohio primary Of that year
and picked up four delegates. However, sena-
fNr y yFac kkNeA
for the nomination, and Landon in the end was
nominated that year.
The fur promises to fly in the New Hamp-
shire primary, March 9, when Gov Dewey and
Mr.. stassen will lock horns; in the Wisconsin
primary, April 6, when Mr.. Stassen and Gov.
Dewey will again face each other, and possibly
Gen. Macarthur, unless the last should de-
clare, like Gen. Eisenhower, he could not ac-
cept nomination, and in Nebraska, April IS,
when all the Republican candidates of note
will be entered in the presidential preferential
primary.
This Nebraska primary is unusual, to say the
least. Republicans there have entered Gov.
Dewey, Mr. Stassen, Senators vandenberg, Taft
and Saltonstall, Gems. Eisenhower and MacAr.
thur Senator Martin and Gov. Warren. On the
Democratic side President Truman and Henry
Wallace are being entered in the party primary,
even though Mr.. Wallace is at present heading
a third party. Only court action could take any
Of these candidates and potential candidates off
the ballot-and it would look too much like
showing the white feather to seek such action.
For the first time therefore, the voters in
Nebraska will have an opportunity to express
their preference for the man they wish to see
nominated, instead of being confined to q
choice between such candidates as the political
T~~I t. g. AEH~~ - - .Asu
tender mercies. 1t is. If nothing else, an inter-
esting experiment.
Stassen Has Many Friends.
Mr.. Stassen has announced long ago that he
will not only seek the preference vote in Ne
braska. but that he will enter slate of dele
gate candidates for the Republican National
Convention. He has many friends in the State.
Senator Taft, on the other hand, will have the
backing Of Senator Butler of Nebraska. sena-
tor Butler heads strong organization in the
State-an organization which was successful in
renominating Senator Butler in 1916, although
the then Gov. Griswold backed by Mr.. Stas-
sen was candidate against him. Gov. Dewey
has many supporters in the State-but his
plans have not been revealed yet. Representa-
tive Miller of Nebraska is a Macarthur man,
and believes that the general will roll up sub
stantial vote in the preference primary II his
name stays in The vote cast for Gen. Eisen-
hower-who has now taken himself out OF the
race--will be OF more than passing interest.
These primary votes will not necessarily point
to the final selection of the Republican National
Conyention-but they may have their effect on
that selection. Indeed, Mr.. Stassen is making
bold cast for support by entering nearly all the
primary States. If he fails to make good
showing his chances will slump. Mr.. Taft has
sought to hold aloof from primaries outside his
own State 1t looks now as though he may
have to struggle hard for primary support un-
less he is to go into the convention somewhat
weakened.