Evening star., 1951-09-02

mon was, to determine which party
has custody" Unfortunately. Solo
mons decision would not be helpful
in the present case.
The Eisenhower Republicans may
take their time deciding whether to
file the general. or a favorite son.
There is some indication they may
wait until January.
Senator Gordon, Oregon's senior
Republican in the Upper House. be-
lieves the phrasing of the State law
creates an assumption that a man
whose name is filed for President is a
member of that party. The Senator
pointed to the provision of the law
which says the 1000 petitioners who
do the filing must be registered
voters "of the political party to
which said candidate belongs"
There has been some speculation
in Oregon that early filing would give
the Democrats advantage in a court
battle to keep the generals name on
only one party ballot. This view is
not shared by some Oregon Republi-
cans, who are inclined to believe the
issue would have to be settled on af-
flrrnative evidence of the generals
political leanings, and not simply on
who got there first
Speculation here is to the effect
that the issue could get into the
courts, either through a Democratic
application for an injunction to pre-
vent the filing Of Republican nomi-
mating petition for Eisenhower, or a
Republican request for a writ OF
mandamus to compel the registrar to
accept G. o. P. nominating petition.
In addition to permitting 1000
voters to enter a candidate without
his consent, the Oregon law also pro-
vides for blank spaces on the primary
ballots. to allow each voter to write
In the name of his choice.
No Woy Out
Senator Gordon said there does not
appear to be any way for a man to
get his name off the Oregon ballot,
once it is on. Minnesota permits
petitioners to enter candidate with
out his consent, but allows him TO
withdraw his name by filing an affi-
davit that he is not a candidate.
Politicians have been guessing for
more than four years about Gen.
Eisenhower's party. if any. This very
doubt about his leanings has made
him seem more attractive as a can
didate to practical politicians in both
parties.
The present Oregon puzzle has
served to recall suggestion Senator
Douglas, the Illinois Democrat, made
that both parties nominate Gen.
Eisenhower. but with a choice Of
two candidates for Vice President.
The argument for such an unortho-
doX election was to avoid the danger
OF dividing the Nation over foreign
policy in this period of world tension.
No one expects this plan to pre-.
VAIL and even if Gen. Eisenhowers
name should go on both the Repub-
lcan and Democratic ballots in the
oregon primary, it would determine
only how many voters in each party
in Oregon are for him. There is 10
crossing OF party lines in the primary
voting.
Regardless of how the Oregon
primary goes. the Republican Party
will have the first chance to offer
Gen. Eisenhower the presidential
nomination, because it holds it's ma
tional convention in Chicago first.
Mr.. Truman, if he so desires, can
even wait until the Republican ticket
has been chosen before making his
own final decision
One important factor in the situa-
ton seems fairly certain, namely.
that it the President decides to run
again he Will have no trouble getting
the nomination. If Mr.. Truman lc
the party leaders know he is ready
to campaign again, an Eisenhower
delegation from Oregon probably
could do no more than cast a compli-
mentary vote for the general on the
tlrSt ballot, and then climb aboard
the Truman bandwagon.