Evening star., 1951-05-12
The Political Mill
Millions of Republicans
Looking to Eisenhower
Both Rank and File Worrying
Over Presidential Candidate
By Gould Lincoln

TULSA, Okla.-Millions of Republi-
cans are hoping to have Gen. Dwight D.
Eisenhower for their party's candidate
for President next year. They include
rank and file as well as many of
the leaders and party workers A good
many are beginning to ask themselves.
however, to whom they will go and
where find a candidate if Gen. EiSen-
hover should not be available" either
because of his present duties as Supreme
Commander of the North Atlantic ma
tionS forces in Europe, or because he
should determine to stay out of politics.
An immediate answer is Senator Rob-
ert A. Taft of Ohio, who has raft
Of supporters in many States. as mem
bers of the Republican National Com
mittee meeting here to get ready for the
1852 Republican National Convention
testify. It is not, however, complete
answer. Senator Taft, because of his
stand on foreign policy in some quarters
and because of the doubt which many
Republicans have had of his ability to
win if nominated and because of the
belief of others that he is too conserva-
tive, may have large and vociferous
opposition.
Answer by No Means Easy.
The answer, therefore, is by no means
easy at this stage, little over a year
before the Republicans will meet to
nominate a candidate. There are, to be
sure, Gov Warren of California. Gov.
Driscoll of New Jersey, Harold E. Stas-
sen of Minnesota and Pennsylvania,
Senator Dirksen of Illinois, and there
are those who would like to see Gen.
Douglas Macarthur in the White House.
Generally speaking, however, the
members of the Republican National
Committee believe that Gen. Macarthur
was entirely sincere when he announced
on his return to the United States he
would not enter politics or run for
office Also, they have expressed them
selves individually as opposed to having
the Republican Party tie itself closely to
the Macarthur military program for the
Korean war at this stage of the game
and so make a party issue of it.
Republican National Committeeman
Arthur E. Summerfield of Michigan has
practical plan to aid in the selection
of the party candidate for President.
He intends to hold a series of meetings
which he will invite potential nominees
to appear and speak on program which
will be carried throughout the State Of
Michigan by radio and television. He
hopes to have actual meetings of not
less than 5000 persons to hear the
speakers in person. When the series Of
meetings has been completed, he intends
to obtain complete reaction report.
1n nf oh ~
of the potential candidates. This report
he will lay before the Michigan delega-
tion to the Republican National Cpnven-
tion, to help them arrive at cision
as to whom the delegation should sup
port.
Senator Taft to Appear.
Mr.. Summerfield already has lined up
Senator Taft for an early appearance
in this contest, AS he points out, Mr..
Taft and other potential candidates are
really little known, in person, to the
voters throughout Michigan. He believes
that his plan will cure lot of that
ignorance. And he hopes that in other
States similar program will be worked
out by Republican leaders, and so make
the survey of candidates really Nation
wide. It's a novel idea. but one that
might prove effective if given a real
trial. And certainly the Republicans
need guidance when it comes to picking
their 1852 standard bearer
Mr.. Summerf1eld, like others on the
National Committee, does not think that
Gen. Macarthur will become candidate
so he has no present plan to include
the general in his list of speakers
Should a great popular demand for Gen.
Macarthur manifest itself later. how
ever, he is ready to revise his list.
The National Committee itself staged
an unusual event yesterday when it
placed seven Governors of Western
States on the same platform for seven
speeches. The result was to open the
eyes of Republicans from every State
in the Union to the fact that the party
has a crop of new and outstanding lead
ers, lot of excellent timber in this
Western country. Particularly we're they
impressed with the new Governors the
party elected last fall-in Wisconsin,
Walter j. Kohler, jr.; in Colorado, Dan
Thorton; in Kansas, Edward F. Arm: in
New Mexico, Edwin L. Mechem. and in
Arizona. Howard Pyle. All of them are
young, hard-hitting, able speakers.