Evening star., 1951-12-09
Corruption Is Seen
As Big Issue Unless
Truman Cleans House
By jack Bell
Asseclosed Press Sioff Writer

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to clean house or face a presi-
dental campaign in which Gov
ernment corruption charges will
overshadow all other issues.
With II months left before next
November's elections, Republican
political strategists here believe
that tax scandals and mink coats
may have more to do with decid-
ing the issue than foreign policy,
the Korean war or any other issue.
On the other hand, Democrats
feel that high level of prosper
ity, plus claimed popular support
for the overall objectives of their
foreign program will go a long
way toward keeping them in
power.
But they admit privately that
unless some dramatic step is taken
soon to counteract corruption
charges leveled against admins
tration officials they will be forced
on the political defensive.
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Democrats say they can make
the corruption charges politically
neffective-just as the late Calvin
Coolidge did for the Republicans
In the 1924 campaign-by acting
soon to clean their own house.
But most of them believe such
action must be taken we'll before
the party nominating convention
next July.
AS 1851 nears its close the out
come of those conventions remains
highly in doubt.
On the Democratic side there
have been increasing small signs
that President Truman doesn't in
tend to run again. He has said
he won't announce his decision
until after he sends his messages
10 Congress in January and NAV
not for some time after that.
In any event, the President has
mace 1t clear he intends to see
that the party platform embraces
all OF his fair deal" proposals.
including a vigorous civil rights
plank.
Chief Justice Fred Vinson, a
irony OF the Presidents, is looked
upon in Washington as MIR. Tru-|
mans likely choice for the nomi-
nee If he doesn't run himself.
Friends Build Up Kefauver.
Friends are building up Senator
kefauver of Tennessee, formerI
head of the Senate Crime Investi-
eating Committee, as a potential
nominee if the Government cor
Mption Charges aren't silenced.
Senator Kefauver has a demon
Etrated television following in al
campaign where TV may play anI
extremely important part.
There are other Democrats whoI
might become willing targets for
the presidential lightning, all
though most of them are keeping
, discreet silence until Mr.. Tru-I
man speaks.
Among these possibilities are
Senator Douglas of Illinois, Gov.
Adlai z Stevenson Of Illinois, Gov.
Frank j. Lausche Of Ohio, Gov.
g. Mennen Williams of Michigan.
and Senator Kerr of Oklahoma
If the Democrats are confused
about their presidential possibili-
ties at years end, the Republicansl
are more so.
Seven months away from .his|
party's nominating convention.
Senator Taft of Ohio now looks i
like the leading candidate in the
number of prospective DELEGATES
lined up for him.
Eisenhower Potential Candidate.
The shadow on the Taft can
didacy, however, is that of Gen.
Eisenhower. And despite their
claims the potential Eisenhower
candidacy still is shadowy for his
eooters.
II neither Senator Taft nor Gen.
Eisenhower can get the more thant
500 convention votes which will be
necessary to win the nomination.
the field of possible compromise
choices is more restricted than
sometimes believed.
Gov. Earl Warren Of California
IN active candidate, obviously isl
being offered in the role of such
compromise. But he never
would be Senator Taft's choice and
could count on very little support
from the Ohioan's camp.
Stassen May Enter Race.
Former Gov. Harold E. StassenI
OF Minnesota has tried to keep
himself in the news in the last
year and is thinking seriously of
entering his name in the list.
Like Gov. Warren, Mr.. Stassen
thinks he might inherit the Eisen-
hover support, If the general
doesn't become a candidate, or if
there is a deadlock.
Mr.. StaSsen already has alien
ated the Taft bloc by saying pub
hcly he doesn't think the people
Of the country want the Ohioan
for President.
II Senator Taft can't get the
nomination, his second choice well
might be Senator Dirksen of Illi-
nois, his campaign manager for
that State. Senator Dirksen, a
leading critic of the administra-
tion's foreign as well as domestic
policies, would not be acceptable
to the Eisenhower contingent.
Dewey Possibility.
Gov. Thomas z. Dewey of New
York. who stepped out during the
year to take leading part in the
draft Eisenhower campaign, re-
mains something of a possibility
as a compromise candidate. Sen
ator Taft, for instance, might pre-
fer Gov. Dewey again over either
Gov. Warren or Mr.. Stassen.
Inside the Republican organiza-
tion. however, there is such in
tense feeling against Gov. Dewey
that his nomination would be the
outstanding surprise of 1852.
Gen. Macarthur can't be count
ed out of the Republican picture
despite his age and his disclaimers