Evening star., 1951-11-09
7 Democratic Visits
To Offer Eisenhower
Truman Aid Reported

~HSssSW
The question of whether tn,
Democratic Party is courting Gen
Eisenhower drew additional pro
and cons today, including a New
York newspape11nan's assertion
that the Democrats have beer
hot on the generals trail fol
weeks.
Arthur Krock OF the New Yorh
Times, who blew up a storm by
writing that President Truman
has offered to support Gen. Eisen.
hover, reported today that influ-
ential Democrats visited the gen.
eral twice In Paris within five
weeks with the same promise.
Both President Truman and
Gen. Eisenhower's supreme Allied
headquarters denied such an offer
was made during their recent talks
here. s-
However. Senator Taft >of Ohio,
an open candidate for the Re
publican nomination, was quick
to affirm his respect for the New
York Times accuracy and said
there probably was something
to the story.
Anderson COntradicts Story.
Taft supporters hailed the by
play as an indication that a large
doubt still exists about Gen. Eisen-
hower's party affiliations.
But Senator Anderson, Demo-
cat. Of New Mexico, an old friend
of Mr.. Truman, said he had talked
to the President by telephone and
learned there wasn't a word of
truth" in the New York Times
story.
Senator Anderson thought it
might have been a plant" by
"some one wishing to damage
Eisenhower" and said the story
had been "of benefit to the Taft
forces"
The give -and-take seemed to
have convinced Representative
Bender, Republican. of Ohio that
Gen. Eisenhower once and for all
should state his position.
A staunch Taft supporter. Sena-
tor Bender said he expected to
ask the general some leading
questions" on a trip to Paris the
Ohioan started today.
In it's story today, the Times
said Gen. Eisenhower was first
visited in Paris by a Democrat
described as very influential in
the party and not associated with
the Southern opponents of the
President"
Later, "a group of similar type"
called on the general. Mr.. Krock
said on each occasion the same
statement was propounded to Gen.
Eisenhower:
1T was that if. at any time be-
fore the Democratic National Con-
vention, he would say he would &C
cept it's presidential nomination,
his visitors were convinced they
could guarantee it and he could
count on the support of President
Truman.
Gen. Eisenhower's reported re-
ply was: You can't join party
just to run for office What rea-
son have you to think I have ever
been a Democrat?'"
Lifelong Republican"
The Times said the general, in
relating the proposition 10 friend
on his recent visit here. said:
You know I have been Re-
publican all my life and that my
family have always been Repub-
lican."
In support Of his first story on
Mr.. Truman's reported offer, Mr..
Krock said the source was a
northern Democrat who has no
conceivable motive in giving out
misinformation on the subject,
and his credentials as one who
would know the facts are excel
lent"
He credited the source of today's1
story to a Republican who should
know and whose Standing in the
Nation is very high indeed"
New Hampshire Republicans
Start Eisenhower Move
CONCORD, N. H., Nov. 9 .(P.-I
There was a strong Republican
movement underway today to get
Gen. Eisenhower's name on the
New Hampshire presidential pri-
mary ballot next March.
TWENTY three of New Hamp-