Evening star., 1951-05-17
The Political Mil
The Political Mill
New 6. o. P. Delegates
Sought by California
Census Count Puts Strength
Equal to Pennsylvania
By Gould Lincoln


CHICAGO.-When California heads
into the Republican National Conven-
ton In Chicago next year Gov. Earl
Warren will. 1t is expected, have back
OF him a State delegation practically
equal in size to Pennsylvanias, provided
the delegate strength is apportioned
among the States in accordance with the
1850 census. New York alone will have
a larger delegation.
The new census, on which the mem
bership of the House Of Representatives
is apportioned, gives California seven
more congressional districts. The basis
of delegate strength in the partys ma
tional convention is two for each mem
Der OF Congress. including the Senators,
with certain bonuses for party victory
In previous elections added.
The apportionment of delegate strength
in the 1852 national convention has still
to be made, however. It was discussed in
formally at the recent meeting of the
Republican National Committee in Tulsa.
While it is not likely to be announced
until the formal call for the convention
goes out, 1t Is probable the National Com
m1ttee will deal with the subject when
1T meets next January in San Francisco.
Actual Change Due in '53.
The actual size of the congressional
delegations will remain as it is today
until the end of the 82d Congress in
January. 1858. On the other hand, it is
expected that the redistricting of the
States will have been accomplished in
accordance with the census figures, be-
fore the 1852 elections, and in those
States where changes are to be made the
number of House seats will have been be-
vised, and candidates will be fighting
for the seats.
Under these circumstances, it is ar
gued by some members of the National
Committee, the appointment of dele
gate strength should conform to the
new census of population. If any fight
Is to be made against the plan, it will
be by those who insist that until the
delegations in the House are actually
changed the old apportionment Of dele
gates must be adhered to. California.
which makes the greatest gain of all
States in the new House apportionment,
will certainly plug hard for IA more
delegates to the convention.
Gov. Warren has made no announce
ment of his political plans, but the talk
is he may become formidable candi-
date. particularly should Gen. Dwight
D. Eisenhower be out of the running
when the convention meets. Then the
opposition to Senator Taft for the preSi-
Dental nomination will be casting
around for a man to beat the Ohioan.
There are others who might fit the
picture, among them two new Senators,
Duff of Pennsylvania and Dirksen Of
Illinois Should Gov. Warren solidify
back of him the delegations of many of
the Western States, he might make a
strong bid. For he belongs to the more
progressive wing of the Republican Party
and would have greater appeal to Gov.
Dewey of New York, Senator Duff antl
other Eastern party leaders than would
Messrs. Taft or Dirksen.
Taft Backers Active.
The Taft people are apparently more
active today than the supporters Of any
other Republican presidential possibil-
ity. They are busy laying the ground
work for Taft support all across the
country, despite the fact that Senator
Taft himself has said that he Is not now
a candidate, although if the party wants
him as its standard bearer, he will be
sentatives of the Taft support are plan
ming to invade the Pacific Coast States
and the Mountain States, and will be
on hand at all important Republican
gatherings from now on-just as they
were at Tulsa. Dave ingalls, of Cleve-
land and Ben Tate of Cincinnati are
key men in the Taft drive at present.
BY January, when the Republican
National Nny10YOiffno iy,
cisco-as now planned-a great deal
OF spade work will be back of the Taft
for-President drive. Not only is the
Ohio Senator being pictured as direct
antithesis of the Truman administra-
tion. but the claim is being made that
he has demonstrated conclusively by his
huge victory in Ohio last year that he
can carry industrial centers and win.