Evening star., 1949-07-09
The Political Mil
Dulles Choice for Senate
Meets General Acclaim
Should Be Strong G. 0. P. Candidate
In November Special Election
By Gould Lincoln

by JOHld Lincoln
Occasionally there is made an appointment
to high public Office that meets general
acclam-because it is so right. The APP
pointment of John Foster Dulles to be Sem
ator from New York by Gov. Dewey. falls
Immediately into that category.
Mr.. Dulles has said that he has no notion
that he will be the nominee of the Repub-
licans for the Senate seat he now occupies
there will be a special election in Novem-
ber). At the same time he frankly admits
that mo doors have been closed" And the
Republicans in his home State may very well
come to the conclusion that he Is the man
to nominate.
Mr.. Dulles has served his country well,
as special adviser to the United States
delegation to the San Francisco conference
where the charter of the United Nations
was written and later as a delegate to each
meeting of the United Nations Assembly.
He has never run for elective office-but that
does not mean he could not and would not
make good run. He is widely known in
New York-and, indeed. throughout the
country.
Close Friend of Dewey.
The nominations for the Senate, to f1ll
the vacancy caused by the resignation OF
Senator Wagner, Democrat. will be made
by the Republican and Democratic State
of the American Labor Party, if that party
decides to put a candidate in the field.
These State committees of the Republicans
and Democrats have 800 members each.
Since the Republican State organization Is
pretty much in the palm of Gov. Deweys
hand presumably the committee will listen
to the governor when it comes to making
the senatorial nomination. And If Senator
Dulles likes the idea of running, what could
be more natural than for Gov. Dewey to
give the nod? They have been close friends
for years, and Mr.. Dulles was selected by
Gov Dewey back in 1914 to confer with
Secretary of State Hull at the time of the
Dumbarton Oaks Conference-forerunner Of
the San Francisco Conference-to make
known to the Administration Gov. Dewey's
position on foreign affairs and his willing
ness to cooperate.
Senator Dulles might be tough man for
the Democrats to beat. He would be q new
figure. something fresh for the voters to
deal with. 1t is widely known that he was
probably Mr. Dewey's choice for Secretary Of
State. had the New York Governor been
elected President.
Former Gov. Herbert Lehman in all prob
ability can have the Democratic nomination
for the Senate-if he wishes it. But Mr..
Lehman has been shy. He has said he Is
still considering whether he will seek the
nomination-although he has been Endorsed
for 1t by Mayor O'Dwyer of New York, Ed
Flynn, the Democratic leader of the Bronx.
Franklin D. Roosevelt, jr., and many others.
Two things which may be worrying Mr.
Lehman are Cd who will the Republicans
nominate. and (2) will the American Labor
Party support him, Mr.. Lehman again?
Had Jolt In 1946.
The former Governor had Jolt In 1e46.
when he was defeated for the Senate by
Senator Ives Republican. Senator Ives ran
250,000 votes ahead, even though Mr.. Leh-
man had the nomination of the American
Labor Party at that time. He might not care
to risk another defeat, If the Republicans
put up an outstanding candidate. or If he
was not to have the support of the ALP.
Representative Marcantonio, ALP. of New
York says quite frankly that no decision
has been made about the senatorial fight.
Probably no decision will be made until
September, he adds. That means no de-
cision has been made whether the ALP will
put a candidate of its own in the field.
Should it do so the Democrats would have
a difficult time electing their candidate.
whether it were Mr.. Lehman or another. The
ALP, which went along with Henry Wallace
in the last presidential campaign, is not cot
toning to the Democrats. In fact 1t is out
to build up new party locally and ma
tionally.
Mr.. Dulles, who was sworn in as Senator
on Friday, had the distinction of taking
the oath of office in the historic old Senate
chamber-the first Senator to be sworn in
there in 80 years. Also his first vote in the
Senate will be cast on the North Atlantic
Security Treaty-a treaty on which and for
which he worked in the very infancy Of
the idea, back in 1947, meeting with the
then Secretary of State, Gen. Marshall. and
others in secret conference in Washing
ton. He is convinced that the treaty is right
but is inclined to believe that the ad-
ministrations estimate of more than a
billion dollars to help arm Western Europe
is excessive and should be reduced