Evening star., 1950-10-12
The Political Mn
Far West Republicans
Want Gen. Eisenhower
Leaders Soy Senator Toft
Could Not Win in 1852
The Political Min
By Gould Lincoln

BY Gould Lincoln
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 12.-Gen.
Dwight D. Eisenhower, as Republican
presidential candidate, shines as brightly
in the eyes of Republican leaders In the
Far West as he does in those Of Eastern
and Midwest party leaders. In fact, he
is their white hope for the struggle of
1852. 1t makes no difference to them
whether Senator Taft Of Ohio. or Cows
Warren of California or Dewey Of New
York win reelection on November z.
They want Gen. Eisenhower.
Senator Taft, they believe, could not
win-just as they believed in 1947 when
he toured this part Of the country max
ing many friends, with his frank and
outspoken attacks on the Truman Fair
Dealers. They admire him and wish
him we'll in his fight to retain his Senate
seat.
AS for Gov. Warren, even should
he defeat James Roosevelt, as almost
every one believes he will with a re-
sounding vote, the Republicans contend
that he had his big chance to enter the
national field in 1948-and failed even
to carry his own State, when he was the
party's vice presidential candidate. Gov.
Dewey, in the opinion Of one Of the
shrewdest leaders, could not get the con-
vention votes for a third nomination for
President even if he tried.
Admit Dewey Influence.
These Far West Republicans admit
freely that Gov. Dewey, If he wins re-
election, will have great influence in the
1852 Republican National Convention.
But that influence, they insist, can be
used only in support of some other can
didate. They hope it will be used for
Gen. Eisenhower. Indeed, they go fur
ther and say they have reason to believe
that the Dewey influence would be for
Gen. Eisenhower.
Nor do these Far Western Republicans
feel that Gov. Duff of Pennsylvania. who
is expected now to win election to the
Senate over Democratic Senator Myers.
would fill the bill for the Republican
presidential nomination. They admire
his fighting qualities and his progress
siveness-but they point out that he is
ST years old now and will be SO two years
hence. Also he is not known to the
people of the West.
Harold E. Stassen, president Of the
University of Pennsylvania and former
Governor of Minnesota, has warm
friends on the Pacific Coast but not
enough to warrant belief he would have
Western delegates to the party's national
convention pledged to him for a presi-
dental nomination. They have not for
gotten how Gov. Dewey, in 1948, cleaned
him up after hard campaign in the
Oregon primary. Also, some Of Mr..
Stassen's recent moves, including his
proposal that he talk world peace with
Marshal Stain, have left them cold. Gov.
Driscoll Of New Jersey, one Of the more
progressive group in the Republican
Party, Is still an unknown out here.
Interview Recalled.
Last December In Texas, Gen. Eisen-
hover said in press interview he was
not a candidate for President and that
he was not going to let any talk by
others make me a candidate" The Re-
publicans in the West are perfectly will
ing to accept Gen. Eisenhower's honesty
in making this statement. But that does
not discourage them. They believe that
If Gen. Eisenhower were drafted" for q
presidential nomination. he would accept.
And they believe further that the only
way the party could have him for Q
presidential nominee would be through
a real draft. which they consider en-
tirely feasible.
These Western Republicans would like
to see nominated with Gen. Eisenhower
for Vice President a man who has had
governmental administrative experience.
For example, a Republican Governor of
a State, or a Senator who has been
Governor in the past. Such Vice
President could be of aid in the admini-
strative policies of the Government-in
helping to put into effect the Hoover re-
organization plan, which the present
administration has failed in some re-
spects to do.
Two years must elapse before another
presidential election is held and q year
and half before the Republicans nomi-
nate a candidate. The political picture
may change enormously In that time,
but as Of today, Gen. Eisenhower Is the
choice.