Evening star., 1950-09-12
Dewey Draft Stlrs Move
For Call to Eisenhower
New York Governor Could
Pave Way fort o. P. Change
The Political Mill
By Gould Lincoln

The draft Of Governor Thomas Z.
Dewey of New York to run for q third
tern-as Governor-has stirred 1852
Republican presidential politics with 0
big spoon. There is tremendous hank
ering among Republicans in many parts
of the country for Gen. Dwight D.
Eisenhower, now president Of Columbia
University in New York, TO become their
candidate for President two years hence.
If Gov. Dewey is reelected on Novem-
her z, he will be in position, more than
any other leader in the party, to bring
about an Eisenhower draft at the Re-
publican National Convention in 1852
willingness to go for Gen. Eisenhower
and, indeed, to throw his influence with
his own past hackers in favor Of Gen.
"Ike"-was strongly intimated during q
visit to the National Capital some
months ago.
Could Pull Party Strings.
1t is always possible that If Gov.
Dewey Is reelected by big vote. the
presidential bee may sting him again.
despite the fact he has been twice nomi-
mated by the G. o. p. and twice de-
feated. Once bitten with the presi-
Dental bug-and Dewey was bitten early
1T Is difficult to get the desire out Of
mans political blood stream. For him
to have chance for third presidential
nomination-soon after two defeats In
a row-will require tremendous rever-
sal OF feeling among many Republicans.
Next to being President himself, the
New York Governor might take the
greatest satisfaction out of pulling the
strings which make a President. As
Governor OF New York. Mr.. Dewey would
In all probability have the Empire
States big delegation-45-in his pocket
at the party's national convention in
1882. Not only could ne throw this large
bloc OF votes to Gen. Eisenhower, but
ne could reach out to the many i'm
portant leaders in the party who have
supported Gov. Dewey himself during
the last eight or 10 years. and they
would go along. In fact. it looks at
this writing as though Gov. Dewey would
be more effective with them in sup
port OF a candidate like Gen. Eisenhower
than he would be for himself.
Two other leading possibilities for a
Republican presidential nomination are
Senator Taft of Ohio and Gov. Driscoll
OF New Jersey. Senator Taft, Of course.
must win reelection in November.
There are also Gov. Warren in Cali
fornia and Senator Lodge in Massacllu-
sets. But that any of them could stand
out against draft for Eisenhower, en-
gineered by Gov Dewey. does not appear
credible
Could Stop Taft Group.
That Gen. Eisenhower would accept
q presidential nomination is confidently
asserted by Republican leaders who
profess to know what they are talking
ABOUT. These same leaders, however. In
s1st that Gen. Eisenhower will not 10
out and make campaign for the noni-
nation. That is where the Importance
OF Dewey drive to draft the general
becomes so important. It becomes par
ticularly important should Senator Taft
be reelected in Ohio in big way. Gov.
Dewey and his friends in 1914 and again
IN 1S46 were too strong at the Repub-
hcan conventions for Senator Taft and
his friends. And Gov. Dewey, with Gen.
Eisenhower as his candidate for presi-
Dental nomination, could easily be too
strong for the Taft group again. or
TOO strong Tor any other opposing candi-
date for the nomination.
War and President Truman might duh
the edge OF an Eisenhower presidential
candidacy in the next two years-pro-
vided Mr.. Truman calls Gen. Eisenhower
oack into service or gives him some
major post in the administration. If.
for example, he should fill the post of
Secretary of Defense with Gen. Eisen-
hover in place of Secretary Louis John
son. However, there are Republicans
who insist that Gen. Eisenhower could
still be drafted for the presidency even
under such circumstances. Their con-
tention is that the country might need
new commander -in-chief OF its armed
forces, as well as new President.
Republicans generally have been en-.
couraged by the Dewey draft for Gov.
ernor. They are confident he can win
and victory in New York is what the
COP particularly needs. Gen. Eisen-
hower's home is Kansas-and the Mid.
west Republicans would 60 for him
strongly. With Gov Dewey backing in
the East-and Dewey friends .on the
West Coast-an Eisenhower draft could
be easy. .....