Evening star., 1950-09-05
The Political Mill
Dewey Star Again Seen
In the Ascendoncy
Demand for denomination
coIIed Amuzins Tribute
The Political Mill
By Gould Lincoln


They have confidence in Thomas z.
Dewey in New York. It's the kind Of
feeling that can easily assure his re-
election for third term in November.
The demand for the Governors re-
nomination has been an amazing tribute
With war threatening, the people of
New York want a strong man and an
experienced State executive in Albany.
and that goes for many independents
and some Democrats as we'll as Repub-
licans.
When Governor Dewey announced
June II last he would not be a candi-
date to succeed himself in the election
next fall. the Republicans resigned
themselves to his decision AS for the
Democrats, they were clearly elated.
Here, they decided. was real chance to
take the State over. They figured they
could defeat 1t. Gov Joe r. Hanley
without too great difficulty with any
acceptable andidate-acceptable to the
CIO, to the Liberal Party and to inde-
pendents. True. they realized that they
would have to buck a gubernatorial
candidate placed in the field by the
American Labor Party, who might roll
up from 100000 to 350,000 votes, mostly
in New York City. as we'll as the
Republican candidate. Mr.. Hanley. as
popular as he might be in upstate
New York, they thought, would be
sitting duck when they opened up on
him in the metropolitan area. -.
Record As Administrator.
The Democrats remember that Gov.
Dewey four years ago rolled up the
biggest plurality ever given to any guber-
material candidate. Since 1916, Gov.
Dewey again has been defeated for
President, with resultant loss of prestige.
With the aid of the Wallace vote, Gov.
Dewey took the electoral vote of New
York, in that, for him, disastrous elec-
ton. Gov. Dewey has a long record,
reaching right up to today, as an able
administrator of State government and
it is that record, plus his services to
New York as a racket busting district
attorney, which makes him so formida- ;
BILE an opponent. .-.-.
The Dewey political star has risen and
fallen more than once during the last =
fourteen or fifteen years. In that Tins
he ran for governor three times and was
elected twice; he failed to win a presi-
dental nomination once and succeeded
twice, only to lose at the polls. Should
he be reelected governor of New York. .
that star would be in the ascendancy
again, though it is difficult to conceive
the Republicans would give him third
presidential nomination in 1852. Mr..
Dewey has himself said he has no ex-
pectation of becoming a candidate for
President. However. political fortune Is
shaped strangely by times and events.
In 1887. for example. probably no one.
including Mr.. Churchill himself, thought
that Winston Churchill would ever be
prime minister of Britain.
Big Help to Others.
denomination of Mr.. Dewey can we'll
mean victory of other important Re-
publican candidates. 1t may be remem-
bered that in 1916, when Gov. Dewey
was last elected Governor, the Republic
cans succeeded in electing Senator Ives.
the first Republican Senator in more
than a score Of years. Senator Ives thai
year defeated Senator Lehman. Demo-
cratic incumbent today. by some $780,
900 votes. Senator Lehman is a candi-.
dates for denomination and reelection
this fall
There is no slightest doubt that when
Gov. Dewey announced his decision not
to be a candidate this fall, he was en-
tirely sincere. His health and his desire
to earn a competence for his family
were the main reasons for his decision.
He had been pressed by leading Re-
publicans. before this decision on June
IT, but he decided against it.
The war in Korea, with its strong
Implications that it is only a fore
runner of a new major conflict between
the Western world and the Communist
forces. changed the situation in the
twinkling of an eye, for Gov. Dewey
and for everyone else. He was appealed
to on the ground of his ability and his
record of public service. The appeals
finally reached tremendous volume.