Evening star., 1950-11-09
G. O. P. at the Crossroads


Republicans are rejoicing in their successes and
the Democrats still are nursing their wounds.
Before many more days have passed. however,
a significant struggle for power within the
COP will be under way.
The principal figures in this struggle will
be Senator Taft of Ohio and Governor Dewey
of New York Another Republican leader.
Governor Warren of California, Is very much in
the picture.
These three emerged from Tuesdays ballot
ing as the strong men Of the party Senator
Taft, whose political life was supposed to be in
danger, came out of the Ohio race with an
unprecedented majority for that State of some
100000 votes Governor Dewey won in New York
with plurality of about 100000 votes-a very
impressive margin in view of the predictions
that he was faced with serious trouble. And
out in California where party lines mean little,
Governor Warren did even better His final
margin of victory will be better than 100000
votes.
The similarity ends, however, with the i'm
pressve character of their triumphs. For
between Senator Taft on the one hand and the
two Republican Governors on the other, there
is deep and perhaps an ominous cleavage.
It Is cleavage that can best be illustrated by
the post-electon comments OF the Ohio Senator
and the New York Governor.
senator 1dlG, dlUeT COlllIllCllGIllS Ol1 tliC Ao-
tional issues involved in his contest, went on
to say that the people of Ohio "have expressed
their lack of confidence in the (administra-
tion's) foreign policy and the. State Depart
ment." He left no doubt that Senator Taft
shares this lack of confidence.
Governor Dewey, in statement in which
Governor Warren unquestionably would concur.
said that he pledged his fullest support" of the
Federal Government in its struggle with Com
munism throughout the world.
To this extent, then, the battle lines have
been drawn. They are not as clearly defined yet as
they will be. But the definition is clear enough
so that the coming struggle for power within
the party can be foreseen.
At the bottom of this conflict, putting domes-
tic questions aside for the moment, is clash OF
beliefs that, for the most part, are sincerely
held Domestic differences may be compromised.
But it is going to be very difficult to bring to-
gether on issues of foreign policy the wings OF
the party headed by Senator Taft on the one
side, and Governor Dewey on the other.
This divergence, in the most favorable cir
cumstances, will be serious enough in the 82d
Congress. And it will be more pronounced as the
fight for the next Republican presidential nomi-
nation gets under way. If Senator Taft does
not become an active candidate, he certainly
will want powerful voice in the making OF the
choice. Governor Dewey, who has said that he
will not run again for the presidency, has
pumped for General Eisenhower What may
come of this remains to be seen, but it Is vir-
tualy certain that neither Governor Dewey nor
Governor Warren will willingly accept any candi-
date in 1852 who comes from the isolationist
camp.
It is an unfortunate fact and dangerous
fact that this conflict should be shaping up at q
time when the security of this country is In
most serious jeopardy. But fact Is fact, ane
should be recognized as such. If the leaders
cannot compose their differences on some ra'
tional basis, those elements within the party
which do not stand at either extreme will have
an opportunity and an obligation to exert theil
influence upon the leaders. The Republican Party
still is a minority party But an all-out fgh
within its ranks during the next two years coulo
be disastrous for the country, and that is some
thing that should be prevented if it is humanly
possible to do so.