Evening star., 1949-08-03
Choice Of GabrieIson
In Doubt After 3-Way
Split on 6. 0. P. Head
BY the Associoted Press

BY the As.oeioted Press
A three-Way split in the Re-
publican National Committee cast
doubt today on its choice of a
new chairman. The election is
set for tomorrow.
Backers of Guy George Gabriel
son, New Jersey member. were
claiming a majority of the 103
votes that might be cast. There
are two vacancies on the 105-
member group.
Critics of the Old Guard contin-
gent supporting Mr.. Gabrielson
disputed this claim.
They added that any chairman
who is chosen by fewer than 80
votes will face the same kind of
committee dissension that even
tually forced out Chairman Hugh
Scott after he won a confidence
test last January by a 54-to-50
margin. Mr.. Scott has said he
will turn in his resignation tomor-
row.
Howard of Nebraska Backed.
AS a compromise candidate,
some Western delegates were
booming A. T. Bert" Howard,
Nebraska State chairman, who has
the support of Senators Wherry
and Butler and other Nebraska
Republicans in Congress. Mr.
Howard also had the backing of
some members who have been
critical of Mr.. SCOTS administra-
ton.
The Nebraska State chairman
was an early supporter of Gov
Dewey of New York in the 194S
campaign, but friends depicted
him now as unpledged to any pos
sible 1852 presidential candidate.
However, the majority of West
ern committee members hadn't
settled on any candidate. Their
chief concern seemed to be to pre-
vent Mr.. Gabrielson. an East
erner, from rounding out the party
leadership positions that are
nearly all in Eastern hands.
Eastern Delegates Split.
The Eastern delegates were split
among those supporting Mr..
Gabrielson and the New York and
Pennsylvania members, represent
ing the Dewey viewpoint. who
oppose Mr.. Gabrielson, but haven't
finally settled on a candidate of
their own.
Thus the three factions-one
Western and two Eastern-seemed
to have reached a temporary
stalemate.
Members who counted noses
said Mr.. Gabrielson might be able
to win by small margin. They
added he was likely to find friends
of Mr.. Scott and others so
antagonistic that he would have
little chance of bringing harmony
to the national committee.
AdlS ouppUItS odUi ilclSOHs
Members generally discounted
of a move to reject Mr..
SCOTS resignation. They cited
the active candidacy of Axel j.
Beck, South Dakota committee
man. who has been a staunch
backer of the present chairman,
as evidence that even Mr.. Scott's
friends think he should bow out
now.
Mr.. Grabielson has the approval
of Senator Taft of Ohio, and is
acceptable to most East
ern members. He also has scat
tered support in the West, includ-
ing Harrison E. Spangler of Iowa.
former national chairman. as one
of his hackers. In the South,
Carroll Reece Of Tennessee sup
ports him.
However. Mr.. Gabrielson lacks
the backing of Pennsylvania S
national committeeman, Mason
Owlett. and New York's j. Russell
Sprague. Former supporters of
Mr.. Scott, they come from areas
which contribute heavily to the
war chest and thus
have influence out of proportion
10 their single votes.
Finances May Be Discussed.
The party's Budget Committee.
meeting today, is expected to call
attention to the low estate of Re-
publican finances.
According to unofficial reports,
he Republicans have only about
100000 left in a reserve fund
which remains from last years
election.
In the face of scattered con-
,ributions of only about $1,000
n the first six months of the year.