Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-07-23
Taft Says Korea War
Has AyaiIed Nothing;
Douglas Disputes Il

Senator Taft OF Ohio, whose
friends are urging him to be an
early contender for the Republic
can presidential nomination next
year, said last night the Korean
war has accomplished nothing .
In a television debate with Sen
ator Douglas. Democrat, of Illi-
nois. on the American Forum of
the Air. the Ohioan said U. N.
plans for uniting Korea may as
well be thrown out the window"
II a cease-fire is arranged on the
38th Parallel.
Senator Douglas, who also is
regarded as presidential timber
iii President Truman decides not
to run, agreed that an armistice
at the 18th Parallel would be
unfortunate" If militarily pos
sible, he said, U. N. forces should
push about 100 miles north to a
better defense line.
Sees Accomplishment.
The Illinois Democrat took
sharp issue, however, with Mr..
Taft's contention that the Korean
fighting has been useless. Senator
Douglas said if the Communists
had not been challenged in South
Korea they would have followed
up by taking Indo- China and the
Malayan Peninsula.
In response to a question from
the audience, Senator Taft said he
did not think the United States
would be in a position "logis-
tically" to send troops to Iran if
Britain became involved in war
there. Senator Taft said the
United States probably could help
with air support.
Senator Douglas said he hoped
the Taft statement about ground
troops would not be taken by
Russia as an incentive to attack
in the Middle. East.
Senator Taft said he did not
think his statement would be
taken as an announcement of
this Governments intentions
about use of ground troops. With
a smile, he added that it is gen.
orally known he does not have
much influence with the Truman
administration.
NO." Senator Douglas replied,
"but I'll say you're the uncrowned
leader of the Senate. You're the
man who tells the Senate what
to do
While the debate was going on
there were reports in political
circles here that Senator Taft's
friends are pressing him for a
go sign to begin rounding UP dele
gates for him in the 1852 Repub-
lican convention.
Mr.. Republican, as he is called,
is still not an avowed candidate,
however. His position is under
stood to be that he wants to find
out whether there is good chance
of winning the nomination be-
fore he throws his hat in the ring.
Wisconsin Test Awaited.
At the moment the Taft camp
has no plans for going into any
primary next year except in his
own State. One of the early test
ing grounds for presidential hope
fuls is the Wisconsin primary in
April. and it is safe to assume
Senator Taft will have made a
definite decision in time to get
into that preliminary race.
Senator Mccarthy, Republican,
of Wisconsin, made it clear he is
not going to try to be his States
favorite son candidate at the
convention, although
he has been mentioned as a pros
pect for the vice presidential
nomination.
You can say for me that I
am going to run for the Senate,
and that is ALL" Senator Nc
Carthy stated.
A new law prohibits entering a
candidate in the Wisconsin pri-t
mary without his consent, which
may prevent friends of Gen. Els
enhower from putting him in that
race. The generals name could
go into the Minnesota primary,
a free-for-all affair. which takes