Evening star., 1949-08-06
]
Control of G. 0. P. Seen
Lost by Dewey Faction
The Political Mill

By Old Guard in Naming Gabrielson
By Gould Lincoln
The Republican National Committee has
changed its top ranking officials, substituting
Guy George Gabrielson of New Jersey Tor
Representative Hugh D. Scott, jr.. OF Penn
sylvania as national chairman. 1t is hoping
for harmony, despite the fact Mr.. Gabriel
sons victory was accomplished only by
three-vote margin over National Committee
man Axel J. Beck Of South Dakota.
What actually happened at this meeting
OF the National Committee, on Thursday.
was the elimination Of the last vestige Of
control OF the organization by the Thomas E.
Dewey faction. Mr.. Scott was Gov Dewey'S
selection for national chairman last summer.
Immediately following the nomination OF
Gov. Dewey for president. Gov. Dewey's
failure at the polls brought down the walls
of wrath of the Taft and Stassen factions
Last January at an Omaha meeting of the
National Committee strenuous effort was
made to oust Mr.. Scott from the chairman
ship. 1t lost by vote of 81 to so.
Noticeable about the Gabrielson victory
was the fact that many of the Taft sup
porters in the committee voted for him
including the two committeeman from Ohio,
Representative Clarence J. Brown and Mrs.
Katherine Kennedy Brown. They had with
them. too, former supporters of Harold E.
Stassen. president of the University of Penn
sylvania, for the presidential nomination.
The combination apparently determined that
the first step was to break any possible
Dewey grip on the national organization.
Old Guard In Camp.
Included in the Gabrielson backing were
many Of the most conservative members Of
the committee-the Old Guard What this
presages it is too early to say. Senator Taft.
it is reliably reported, declined to mix in
the tight over the chairmanship-bu he
admitted that some of his friends were
lining up for Mr.. Gabrielson. The new
chairman Immediately announced, however,
that he planned to be an impartial presiding
officer. and would play no presidential
candidates game. Gov. Dewey too, and
Mr. Stassen, also said they were keeping
hands off in the contest. Nevertheless, lust
as Taft and Stassen supporters were found
backing Mr.. Gabrielson the New York CON-
mttee members, J. Russell Sprague and
MRS. Charles w. Weis, jr., and other Dewey
sympathlzers in the past, lined up against
Mr.. Gabrielson. Indeed, frantic efforts were
made by this faction to find a winning
candidate against the New Jersey member.
SO close was the vote. when the showdown
came, that there are still reasonable doubts
that either the Taft or Stassen faction is
dominant in the committee now. 1t was
only their combined strength that defeated
the faction which has in the past been
Tor Gov. DeWey-and certainly more pro-
gressive.
Senator Taft has still to win reelection to
the Senate next year. If he does-and it is
reasonable to believe he has a good chance
Tor victory in State where popular Demo-
cratic governor has backed away from en-
tering the Senatorial contest-Mr. Taft will
be very strong contender for the 1852
nomination. Much will depend, however, on
the political trend whether 1t Is toward the
right or the left.
Dewey Future In Question.
Gov. Dewey and his future political plans
still remain the $64 question for the COP.
He has been strongly urged recently to run
for the Senate to fill the Wagner seat, now
held by John Foster Dulles under his
Senate and wins, or if he waits and runs for
governor in 1850 and wins. it would be a
hardy prophet who would count him out of
the national picture.
Mr.. StasSen at present is running the Uni
versity Of Pennsylvania acceptably and
translating himself. from citizen of Mime
sofa to a citizen Of the Keystone State. He
is saving wood. If he can gain the backing
OF Pennsylvania Republican leaders in the
next two years. he will have moved long
way on the road
Chairman Gabrelson's immediate task il
to ready the Republican organization for
the congressional elections next year elec-
tions in which the COP must at least hold
its own If it is to remain factor in 1852
He has the promise of all factions to aid
him. He has, however tight rope to walk
If the feuding is not to break out again.