Evening star., 1951-12-02
Taft Expected 10 Wait
For Reaction About
6. 0. P. Floor Leader.
By jock Bell
Associated Press Sfoff Writer

Associated Press Staff Writer
Associates said yesterday Sena-
tor Taft, Republican, of Ohio, may
wait to see how the wind is blow
ing before he takes any stand on
the selection of new Republican
floor leader in the Senate.
Senators Taft and Bridges. Re-
publican. of New Hampshire and
Millikin, Republican. of Colorado,
may confer in the West after fu-
neral services have been held for
Senator Wherry of Nebraska. the
minority floor leader, who died
Thursday.
Some friends are known to have
advised Senator Saltonstall, Re-
publican, of Massachusetts,. the
whip and assistant leader. against
seeking the floor leadership post
because of the heavy duties he al
ready carries.
Senator Saltonstall is one of the
Republicans who have organized a
campaign to get their party's
nomination for Gen. Eisenhower
Taft Could Dictate Choice.
Although Senator Taft has
noted it will be up to the caucus
of all Republican Senators to pick
Senator Wherry's successor, Gen.
Eisenhower's supporters conceded
privately that the Ohioian can
just about dictate the choice if
he chooses to make a fight of it.
Friends said the Ohioan might
support Senator Knowland, Re-
publican of California, backer
of Gov. Earl Warren for the
presidential nomination. if Sena-
tor Taft finds that some other
Senators with more seniority don't
want the job. Seniority isn't
binding in the choice of a leader.
as it is in the selection of COM
mittee chairmen.
Among veterans mentioned as
possible candidates for the lead
ership post are Senators Bridges,
Ferguson, Republican of Michi-
gan, Brewster, Republican of
Maine and Hickenlooper, Repub-
lican of Iowa. Any of them prob
ably would be acceptable to Sena-
tor Taft. Senator Bridges said,
however. he is not a candidate.
Meanwhile, other political pots
continued to boil.
President Truman, at a Thurs
day news conference, took in
stride an announcement that
Senator Kefauver, Democrat of
Tennessee, former chairman of the
Senate Crime Investigating Com
mittee, had given local supporters
permission to enter his name in
the California Democratic prim-
airy. Mr.. Truman's name also is
going into that primary, under
present plans.
President Gives No Hint.
The President said he under
stood Senator Kefauver was per-
fectly willing to have the lightning
strike him, if it happened to strike
that way.
The President gave no new hint
Of his own plans but Representa-
tive Mccormack of Massachusetts,.
the House majority leader. said in
a statement the President defin-
itely will run again and will
certainly win"
The question whether Gen. Els
enhower will become a candidate
for the Republican presidential
nomination came no nearer solu-
tion during the week.
Senator Lodge, Republican Of
Massachusetts,, chairman of the
for President cam
paign, said in radio broadcast he
thinks the general will get the
even If his command
duties with the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization keep him in
uniform during the July nomi-
mating convention.
Senator Dirksen, Republican of
Illinois, a Taft supporter, told re-
porters Gen. Eisenhower will have
to decide in January whether he is
going to run.
At Ashland, Wis, John Chapple
announced that list of delegate
candidates pledged to Gen. Doug
las Macarthur will be entered in
that primary.
Ohio Organization Ready.
In Cleveland Allen j. Lowe said
yesterday he has accepted the
"Ohio assignment" to see that