Evening star., 1951-12-06
The Political Mill
Wisconsin to Be G. O. P.
Campaign battle-ground
Preferential Primary April !
To Pick Party Delegates
By Gould Lincoln

By Gould Lincoln
Wisconsin will be a prime political
battle-ground next year-particularly
for the Republicans. The first battle
will come over the States delegation to
the Republican National Convention.
The second, if it happens, will be over
the Republican senatorial nomination
with Senator Joe" Mccarthy seeking
to succeed himself.
Wisconsin's presidential preferential
primary-in which delegates are elected
pledged to one or more potential pres
identlal commissioners early in the
year-April land is the third of such
contests, with only the New Hampshire
primary, on March II, and that of
Minnesota, on March 49, preceding 1t.
In 1914. the results of the Wisconsin
primary demonstrated to the late Wen
dell l.. Willkie that he had no chance Of
a second Republican presidential nomi-
nation. In 1948, Harold E. Stassen, for
mer Governor of Minnesota, won 19
delegates, and Gen. Macarthur had
seven and Gov. Dewey of New
York failed to land even one delegate,
although he was later renominated for
President
Senator Taft of Ohio on the invita-
ton OF Thomas E. Coleman and other
Repubilcan leaders in, the State. already
has entered the fight for Wisconsin
delegates. A great deal of preliminary
work is under way for the Ohio Senator.
The situation is being canvassed, it is
now announced, by a "Stassen-for-
PrpcjHpnfp
Everett Yerly Of La Crosse. Mr.. Yerly
has said that he has already found wide
spread support for Stassen. He is pre-
parlng to submit slate of delegates to
StasSen around the first of the year,
when Stassen is expected to announce
a decision-whether he will or will not
run for the nomination.
The supporters of Gen. Dwight D,
Eisenhower also are looking over Wis
cons1n with an eye to entering an
Eisenhower slate Of delegates, too. They
apparently do not intend to let the
Wisconsin delegation go by default to
senator Taft, or any other potential
candidate. 1t is expected they will be-
come more and more active. What they
nope is that Gov. Kofller will cast in
MS lot with the Eisenhower movement.
The Governor made it clear he has a
great admiration for Cen Eisenhower
while he was attending the Governors
conference last october.
Gen. Douglas Macarthur long has had
following in Wisconsin. his home
State. If his friends determine to place
a slate of delegates in the fleld-and
there eli
hover and Stassen in the race-one of
the most interesting campaigns may be
expected However, Gen. Macarthur has
so far given no indication he will become
candidate, and has spoken favorably
OF Senator Taft, who seemingly has
the advantage in the Badger State.
with many OF the organization leaders
IN his corner. The voters in Wisconsin.
however, are not always predictable. No
one really knows yet how strong an
Eisenhower sentiment exists In the
State. or how 1t may develop II the Els
enhower drive really gets under way.
Mr.. Stassen, according to reports from
some quarters, Is not nearly as strong
IN wisconsin as he was four years ago.
year ago. 1t seemed unlikely that
Senator Mccarthy could be seriously
challenged for renomination-or be
defeated In the general election next
November. Many Republicans In the
State. however, are urging Gov Kofler
TO seek the senatorial nomination, and
he has left the door open Also, former
Gov. Rennebaum is reported as willing
to make the race for the senatorial
nomination against Mccarthy. The pri-
mary election for the nomination does
not come until September. Obviously.
defeat for Senator Mccarthy would
be considered a repudiation of the
Senator and his widespread charges of
communist infiltration and influence in
the State Department.
Gov. Kohler is exceedingly popular
and has good record as chief execu-
tive. II he enters the senatorial primary
there Will be a real fight in a State
which has been famous for its political
battles. Whether Gov. Kohler cares to
preclpltate such bitter fight in ths
republican Party remains to be seen.
Inc Democrats are following events
carefully. hoping that Gov. Kohler will
eliminate Senator Mccarthy, whom the
truman Democrats regard with loathinp.
II Mccarthy Is renominated, they will
DO their utmost to defeat him. It Is no
secret, however. that Wisconsin voters
have been greatly disturbed by the
governmental scandals affecting the
truman administration and the State
may swing Republican in the national
election. which might greatly affect the
result in the senatorial contest.