Evening star., 1949-12-13
Tie Political Mill
ne P0fnfc0I MN
Gndiron Dinner Puffs Up
Political Lung in Capital
Two Presidential Candidates.
Brought to Fore at Party
Bv Gould Lincoln

By Gould Lincoln
0ridiron dinner week end invariably
puffs more politics into Washington's lungs
and politics is the breath Of life to the
National Capital. Saturdays party, which
brought Republican and Democratic leaders
here from all parts of the country, high
lighted two potential presidential candi-
dacies for 1852. Eisenhower for the Repub-
ncan nomination and johnson for the Demo-
cratic. The newspaper club presented to its
guests . cloaked and masked highwayman
riding horse named Columbia" who told
the Republicans; II have come to your
rescue, I think. I still have an academic
doubt about It," and then. in song revealed
the fact that he was Gen. Dwight D. Eisen-
hover "a member Of the club impersonating
the generaD. For the Democratic nomina-
ton, the club suggested-in no modest way
Secretary of Defense johnson, painting him
as the whole Army. Navy and Air Force. who
could be wonderful guy if everybody
said "yes" to him.
The President of Columbia University. Gen.
Eisenhower, doesn't have to say whether he
Is Republican or Democrat-or even if he
isn't either. But lot of people think he
should He declined in 1948 to permit him
self to be made candidate for presidential
nomination by either Republicans or Demo-
Gratis. Many Democrats at that time wanted
the man who had been supreme commander
OF the allied forces in the European theater
during the last war for presidential candi-
date. They believed him the only man who
could smother a Republican victory tide.
Many Republicans today look on him as q
ifesaver for the COP in 1852.
Speeches Seen Pointed.
In recent months and weeks, Gen. Eisen-
hover has made speeches in which he backed
away from the Truman Fair Deal and the
Ho hos fo
that 1t is now reported that President Tru-
man regards him as presidential candidate
(for the COP nomination.. This Is not
entirely conclusive; it does not make a full
fedged Republican of him, for number of
Democrats also have backed away from the
Truman program. On the other hand,
Kansas new Senator, Harry Darby. repre-
senting Gen. EisenhoWer's native State, says
he believes the general to be a Republican
(Which may have been polite way of saying
he was sure), and that he would not be
surprised" if Gen. Eisenhower became pres
idential candidate Also boom for Esen-
hover for President has been started by
Republicans in Vermont.
The next two years may bring changes in
the political and economic situations in this
country perhaps marked changes. Re-
publican victory in the congressional elec-
tions next year might change the thinking OF
many Republicans Certainly if Senator
Taft OF Ohio was reelected and at the same
time the Republicans made gains in House
and Senate, Mr.. Taft's potentialities as q
presidential nominee would rise. Followers
OF President Stassen of the University Of
Pennsylvania and of Gov. DriscoI of New
Jersey would lift their banners. On the
other hand, if Senator Taft should be de-
feated and the Republicans lose ground in
Congress, the cry for Eisenhower would swell
IN volume. And in that case Gen. Eisen-
hover would have to decide whether he
wished to lead forlorn hope attack by the
COP.
Attacks Already Started.
Already the Democrats and the AFL are
attacking Gen. Eisenhower because Of his
criticisms of the cradle le-to-the-grave pater-
nalistic security program of the Fair Dealers.
Rep. Noland, Democrat. of Indiana, has sug-
gested that it might be good thing to take
away from Gen. Eisenhower the $4,000 re.
tirement pay he now receives from the Gov
ernment. and that Congress should look into
the matter. What boomerang that might
turn out to be, if it were persisted in! Also
it is reported that President Truman may
reply to the structures of the general.
Secretary of Defense Johnson if he has
any presidential aspirations, is certainly
under wraps today. He could not possibly
make any overt move unless and until he
is assured that President Truman himself
is not seeking and would not take another
presidential nomination. He can, however,
work at making record in his present i'm
portant post which would give him place
in the sun. BY his strides toward economy
Secretary johnson has already won applause.
If Mr.. Truman takes himself out of the
1852 picture eventually, Mr.. johnson will
still have to compete with whole flock of
Democratic hopefuls. There are couple
of Roosevelts. a brace of Fair Deal Senators,
not to mention Governors. who may be in
there fighting.