Evening star., 1951-06-17
Republican HopefuIs Begin the Big BuiId-Up
The Two Generals
Are the Biggest
Question Marks
By Gould Lincoln

4 y
candidates are building up in {
big way. and issues against thu
Truman administration are tenta.
lively falling into place.
Gen. MacArthur's series oi
addresses in Texas last week
vigorously attacking the Truman
policies, in war and in peace. hai
brought immediate speculation
that the five-star general is al
least receptive candidate. From
Truman Democrats comes the fiat
charge that Gen. Macarthur Il
seeking to build up a following
to nominate him for President al
the Chicago convention. which
opens June 80. 1852.
It is interesting to remember
that in the fall of 1949. when Gen
Eisenhower was making speeches
in New York. st. Louis and Hous-
ton apparently fiaying the admin
|istration's domestic policies. Tru-
man Democrats rushed into print
with statements that Eisenhower
was opening the way for his own
candidacy for the presidency, on
Ia Republican ticket.
Both Macarthur and Eisenhowe,
have denied they are candidates
for public Office. But their friends
and admirers won't let it go at
that. Eisenhower for President
Committees are already underway
A self-appointed leader Of q Mac
Arthur-for- President drive has
opened headquarters.
MacArthur's old-Ike's Busy
How available" either Of these
generals will be may not be known
until next winter. Though he ap-
pears virile and In the best o1
health. MacArthur's age-he will
be 70 in 1952-is mentioned as a
drag upon his possible candidacy.
Eisenhower, on the other hand, is
back in uniform, commanding the
North Atlantic treaty nations
forces in Europe. His age is right.
But whether he will feel his first
duty is to continue in his present
job may depend upon two things:
First, the international situation,
and second, how far the organiza-
ton of the NATO forces has pro-
gressed at the time he must decide.
1t is within the possibilities that
the storm over the generals may
kill both of them off as presi-
Dental candidates. Macarthur is
strongly opposed to the Truman
foreign policy, which emphasizes
the Importance of the European
theater over the Far East. Eisen-
hover, on the other hand is at
work today trying to implement
the Truman policy in Europe.
This division runs parallel to the
division in the ranks of Repub-
licans over the best policy to pur-
sue in the Korean war and against
Red China.
1t Is suggested in some quarters
that Gen. Macarthur is both a
potential candidate for the presi-
Dental nomination himself and a
bomb to blow the candidacy Of
Gen. Eisenhower out of water,
while Eisenhower is hog-tied to
his European job.
Goes for Eisenhower
Senator Ives of New York is a
strong supporter of Eisenhower
for President.
81 was for him in 1948," says
the New Yorker, land would have
voted for him if Tom Dewey had
not been in the picture. I am
still for Eisenhower today, and
hope he will be nominated.
served under him in the first
World War, when he was a cap
tain and an instructor at Fort
Leavenworth. He has the common
touch-no big brass about him at
ALL"
The enthusiasm of Macarthur
and Eisenhower part. ans is loud
and vociferous today. However,
an enormous amount of work is
being done - more quietly - for
other Republican presidential pos
sibilities. OF greater proportions
than all the rest is the drive for
delegates to the Republican Ma
tional Convention-probable dele
gates at this stage of the game
who will be for Senator ,iaft. Un-
der the direction of Dave ingalls,
of Cleveland. a longtime friend
of the Senator, the search for
delegates is spreading all over the
country.
Indeed, it is commonly predict
ed that Taft will enter the ma
tional convention next year with
more pledged delegates than any
other candidate. The Ohio Sena-
tor. however, will not get the nom
nation by default. He will prob
ably be opposed by strong coali-
ton of Eastern and Pacific Coast
leaders, with a sprinkling of Mid
westerners thrown in. In the East,
Gov. Dewey Of New York has de-
clared himself for the nomination
Of Eisenhower. and Senator Duff
If Pennsylvania is mentioned as