Evening star., 1951-03-06
The Political Mil
National Election Called
Just Around the Corner
New Hampshire Primary
The First-But Year OFF
The Political Mil
By Gould Lincoln

The First-But Year Off
By Gould Lincoln
The first of the presidential preferen-
tial primaries of 1852 is just year Off
in New Hampshire on March II. OBJ
viously, states of delegates supporting
candidates must be selected weeks be-
fore that date. 1t becomes more and
more apparent, therefore, that a ma
tional election is, indeed, just around
the corner
New Hampshire will give an oppor-
tunity for first test of strength on the
Republican side of the fence and-n
President Truman should decide not to
run again-a first test for aspiring
Democrats. A short time later, on April
l, Wisconsin holds its presidential pri-
mary, and Illinois primary follows
quickly, too, on April 8.
AS of today the two names discussed
almost exclusively in Republican circles
for the G. o. P. nomination are those of
Senator Taft of Ohio and Gen. Dwight
D. Eisenhower. The latter's early life
was spent in Kansas. He is president
(on leave) of Columbia University in
New York and he has purchased home
in Pennsylvania. Both have disclaimed
being candidates for presidential NOM
ination. Mr.. Taft has said, however.
that he would accept nomination at
the hands of the Republicans. Gen. Ike
has said nothing-neither whether he is
a Republican or Democrat nor whether
he would permit himself to be drafted
for a presidential nomination.
Launched Draft" in 4S.
1t was in New Hampshire in 1948 that
a determined draft" movement for the
nomination of Gen. Eisenhower on the
Republican ticket was launched. The
general put his foot down and squashed
the thing in its infancy. In that year.
as in next year, the first of the presi-
Dental primaries was held in March.
The "Eisenhower-for-P President" drive
may get its first big play in the White
Mountain State next year-provided the
general does not step on 1t again. There
are persistent reports that Gen. Eisen-
hover had an understanding with Presi-
dent Truman he would accept his
appointment to organize and build up
the NATO forces, but that. barring war,
he would return to Columbia University
by next winter Certainly many Of his
supporters, among them Gov Dewey Of
New York, consider Gen. Eisenhower still
available for presidential nomination.
Gov. Dewey was successful contender
in the New Hampshire primary in 1948
and his chief opponent was Harold E.
Stassen.
Out in Wisconsin Taft-for-P President
and Eisenhower r-for-President clubs al
ready have been launched. Senator Taft
has real following in the State, 1t
appears, although he has never entered
a Wisconsin primary in the past In
l948 the Wisconsin primary law per-
mitted the entry of candidates name
and slate of delegate candidates pledged
to him without specific consent by the
candidate. Friends of Gen. Douglas
Macarthur threw his hat in the ring
and Gen. Macarthur and Mr.. Stassen
divided up the delegation to the Re-
publican National Committee-Gov.
Dewey having failed to get single
delegate.
Consent Now Requisite.
The State Legislature has amended the
Wisconsin law, making consent by q
candidate requisite for ente1ang his
name in the presidential primary Now.
it is reported, the friends of both Eisen-
hover and Taft in Wisconsin may join
up to repeal this provision. feeling that
if it remains on the statute books both
Messrs. Taft and Eisenhower might not
give consent to placing their names in
the race there
Senator Taft kept out of presidential
preferential primaries in 1948-except
those in his own home State and in
Nebraska, which staged primary with
oil fha y@,.sy14 al
the presidency on the ballot. There will
be clamors for Senator Taft to get into
other primary races next year-so that
he can show his strength with the voters
themselves. In the 1948 Ohio primary
Senator Taft won the great bulk of the
States delegation to the Republican Ma
tional Convention, leaving Mr.. Stassen,
his opponent there, only few. He did
fairly well, too, in the Nebraska free
for-all. running second to Mr.. Stassen,
with the others trailing.
So far Senator Taft and Gen. EiSen-
hover have not encouraged drives for
their nomination. Indeed it has been
just the other way Each, however.
would have to be deaf. dumb and blind
not to understand what is going on. Two
factions in the G. o. P. ranks-and
among the party leaders-are growing
up. one for Taft and the other for Eisen-
hover.
A "Draft-Taft-for- President National
Committee" with Perry Howard, veteran
Republican national committeeman from
Mississippi. has already been set up, with
headquarters in Washington, D. C. This
committee is appealing particularly to
the colored voters among the Republicans.
letter widely distributed by the COM
mittee. signed by Mr.. Howard and by
the secretary of the committee, A. A,
Alexander, said in part:
Senator Taft has announced that he
is not candidate. but that he will accept
II drafted. Fellow colored Americans:
We need him in many ways. We need
him to work out the civil rights problem
not tell Congress to do 1t and leave it
suspended in air" "A palpable hit at
President Truman's technique.