Evening star., 1949-01-25
The Political Mill =
FoctionoI Fights to Slow
Any Revival Of 6. 0. P.
Many Personal Ambitions Involved
in Meeting Called in Omaha
Bv Gould Lincoln

Br GOHfd Lincoln
Who shall pick up the Republican Party.
dust it of, and put 1t on its feet again? There
are lot of candidates for the job-ready to
fight for the chance. Many personal ambi-
tions are involved-and some of these ambi.
tions reach out toward the long distant
campaign for the Republican presidential
nomination of 1852.
In a measure, it is natural this should be
So The Republicans favoring the presidential
candidates. Of Senator Taft of Ohio, President
Stassen of the University of Pennsylvania,
Gov. Warren of California and those who still
hope they may be able to get the president Of
Columbia University, Gen. Eisenhower into the
race last fall had reconciled themselves to
Dewey regime in Washington for four years
and perhaps eight. Senator Taft, who will be
go years old next September, appeared to have
had his last chance for the nomination when
the Republican hosts trouped away from Phila-
delphia last June.
Ambitions Revived.
Gov. Dewey's defeat, however, changed this
situation in the twinklng OF an eye Ambitions
were revived almost overnight. Senator Taft,
II he wins reelection to the Senate in 1850
(he expresses confidence he will VIM will cer-
tainly be towering figure in the party. Gov.
Warren Is back in California saving wood, and
ready to spring into the race when necessary.
Few are so naive as to believe that Mr.. Stassen
intends to give all his time and talents to
higher education and forget politics. No one
knows what that other college president Gen.
Ike, plans-but some suspect he may wish to
succeed Mr.. Truman in the White House. either
as Democrat or Republican.
Under these conditions it is natural that
Representative Hugh Scott's determination to
hold onto the Republican national chairman
ship (an ofhce for which he was selected by
Gov Dewey and his appointment OF an execu-
tive committee for the National Committee on
which are many Of Gov. Dewey's friends,
should have caused a ruckus. The friends Of
Senator Taft Mr.. Stassen, ct al, do not relish
the idea that the New York Governor is to
remain in strated position in party affairs
or that he should Continue to regard himself
as the titular leader of the COP. They know
that he is a young man still-46-and that in
politics he has as many lives as cat. They
just can't help being suspicious.
So the meeting of the Republican National
Committee in Omaha, called by Chairman Scott
to make plans for building up to victory in
the 1850 congressional elections, may see the
fur fly. There have been many suggestions
that new leadership arise-with Mr.. Scott
relieved of the craftsmanship. Senator Taft
and his friends are contending that the chair
manship should be a full-time job-and that
Mr.. Scott should either resign as a member
of the House (from Pennsylvania, or give up
the national craftsmanship. Mr.. Scott has
made 1t very clear he intends to give up neither
job Anti-Scott Republicans have now trotted
out former Gov. Gates of Indiana as a con-
tender for the chairmanShip. But whether
the Stassen supporters would care to see Mr..
Gates as national chairman even II the Taft
people prefer Mr.. Gates, Is another matter.
The selection of Mr.. Gates would not give the
COP that new and liberal look for which
considerable section Of the party Is clamoring.
Well Intrenched.
Mr.. Scott is pretty well intrenched Some Of
the neutrals in this rowing predict it will be
impossible to get him out, as long as he insists
on staying chairman. His appointments to the
Executive Committee have made him friends
as we'll enemies, it should be remembered
A gusty voice from the Southwest, Clarence
Burlington Kelland national committeeman
for Arizona is shouting for new organization
and for a firm statement Of policy-also pre-
sumably new. He wants the National Com
mittee to play dominant role in party affairs,
instead Of having the partys presidential candi-
date, successful or unsuccessful, dominate the
scene. The National Committee must regain
its powers which during the last 16 years
have been pre-empted by the candidate and his
aids, Mr.. Kelland continues. This is a slap
at the manner in which the recent Dewey
campaign was managed, with the National
Committee relegated to a seat in the rear
Republican members of Congress, however.
don't take much stock in the idea that the
National Committee should be the guide or
control in party affairs. They insist that party
policy, so far as it can be made in the next
two years, must be made by the Republicans
in Congress and the course they pursue.
Unless the various Republican factions stop
trying to slap each other down, and some
semblance Of unity is resurrected to oppose
the Democratic foe, Republican revival may
be slow indeed.
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