Evening star., 1951-09-15
The Political Mill
The Political Mill
A $64 Question Is Seen
In Minnesota Primary
Truman, Eisenhower Moy Be
Entered Without Consent
By Gould Lincoln


The politically sphinx-like President
Truman and the politically sphinx-like
Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower may both
be entered in the Minnesota presidential
preferential primary, set for March 18.
1852, or so their friends say. The trick
about the Minnesota primary law is that
the name of any potential candidate may
be entered in the primary with or with
out his consent, and once it has been
properly filed the name cannot be with
drawn unless it's owner signs an affidavit
stating that he would not run if nomi-
mated.
Failure to sign such an affidavit would
be widely interpreted if the names Of
Truman and Eisenhower are filed with
the proper Minnesota authorities, as Civ
ing assent to their candidacy
Senator Humphrey of Minnesota, ar
dent New Deal and Fair Deal Democrat,
has told the President he intends to see
that the Truman name is. filed. Mr..
Truman has not told him no" Senator
Thye of Minnesota, Republican and a
supporter of the plan to draft Gen. Eli
Senhower for the COP. nomination,
wants some assurance at least that the
general would accept nomination. Will
he get it? That still remains the $64
question-and to suit Senator Thye it
must be answered by January or early
in February next year.
There has been some talk on the part
of Minnesota Democrats that they might
enter EiSenhower's name in the State
primary. The general might meet such
a move by stating he is not Democrat
but Republican. That should not be
difficult. since his friend Roy A. Roberts,
president of the Kansas City Star, has
already announced that Gen. Ike" has
told him personally that he is IAN old
fashioned Kansas Republican, like his
brothers?" Further, if Truman's name is
to be entered, it might be somewhat en-
barraSsing to the President should Gen.
Eisenhower roll up big vote as an op-
ponent in the Democratic preferential
race.
Might Be Embarrassing.
There is no doubt that Gen. EiSen-
hover has a considerable following
among the Republicans in Minnesota
or some of the Republican leaders there
are sadly mistaken. 1t has been under
stood that former Gov. Harold E.
StasSen is favorable to an Eisenhower
nomination. But complete silence on
the part offs Gen. Eisenhower would
prove embarrassing to both Mr.. Stassen
and Senator Thye One way out Of
such dilemma would be the entrance
of Stassen's name in the Republican
primary, and if Mr.. StaSSen wins the
delegation, as Senator Thye thinks he
could, it would be feasible to have Mr..
Stassen throw the delegation to Gen.
Eisenhower when and if the draft for
Eisenhower gets rolling at the Republic
can National Convention in Chicago
next summer.
The position of Senator Thye is under
standable. He feels that it would be a
waste of time and action to go through
the form of having an Eisenhower dele
cation chosen in Minnesota if the
general is finally to take himself out
of the political picture. Also, Senator
Thye wants to be in a position to sup
port Mr.. Stassen for the nomination if
there is to be no Eisenhower candidacy.
His Democratic counterpart in the
Senate, Senator Humphrey, suffers from
no embarrassment whatever in putting
Truman's name in the preferential pri-
mary. He frankly says that he does not
believe the President would sign an
affidavit by February 25, taking himself
which such an affidavit may be signed.
In fact, he feels that Mr.. Truman may
keep every one guessing right up to the
time of the national conventions. He
remains, he says, doubtful that Mr..
Truman is going to run-unless the
Republicans should nominate Senator
Taft of Ohio. Then he believes Mr..
Truman would accept denomination. On
the other hand, should Gen. Eisenhower
be the Republican choice, he thinks that
Mr.. Truman would step aside. His
reasoning is that Gen. Eisenhower would
carry on with the kind of foreign policy
Mr.. Truman approves. Or should the
Republicans choose another candidate
who had similar views of foreign policy.
MIR. Truman would probably not run.
Since the Republicans nominate their
candidate at least ten days before the
Democratic National Convention will
act, in the opinion of Senator Humphrey,
Mr. Truman could wait and take look.