Evening star., 1952-09-09
The Political Mil
Democrats Lose Hope
Of Deep G. 0. P. Split
Stevenson Should ReoIizs
Strength Of Party Interest
By Gould Lincoln

Strength OF Porty Interest
By Gould Lincoln
One great hope Of the Stevenson Fair
Dealers is that deep breach will develop
between the Republican nominee for
President, Gen. Eisenhower, and Senator
Taft of Ohio, runnerup for the nominal
tion. It has been the burden of some Of
Gov. Stevenson's wisecracks in re-
cent speeches. desperate effort to
picture the Republican Party as hopeless
ly divided. AS of today. however, that
hope appears to be falling fiat on its face.
Senator Taft, returning from a vaca-
ton which has extended ever since the
close of the national convention has said
he will do all he can to aid in the elec-
tion Of the Republican Party's national
ticket. He has expressed every wiling
ness to meet with Gen. Eisenhower, and,
indeed, has said such meeting is to take
place shortly.
The Democratic presidential candi-
date. having recently escaped a serious
division between himself and President
Truman over the question of whether a
mess" exists in Washington or not,
should better understand that party in
tereSt is strong enough in most instances
to stall off political suicide.
Meeting of Minds" Seen.
Republican National Chairman Arthur
Summerheld, friend of Senator Taft.
after long talk with the Ohio Senator,
confidently predicted that when Eisen-
hover and Taft do meet, there will be a
meeting OF minds" and the result will
be satisfactory. Further. Mr.. Summer
Held and Senator Carlson of Kansas an
Eisenhower leader in the preconvention
campaign, who also talked with Taft,
both expressed hope-and q belief
that Senator Taft will play major role
in the fast-developing campaign, with a
Nationwide broadcast and speeches in
number of important locations.
1t is entirely natural that Mr.. Taft
should say the part hs will play in the
campaign must await conference with
the presidential candidate. Gen. Eisen-
hover was quick to call on Taft and
to ask his assistance, Immediately after
he had won the presidential nomination
in Chicago. At that time there was no
time for conference, for an exchange
OF views on any of the issues. It may
be remembered, however, that Gen.
Eisenhower, soon after his return to the
country last spring, took a firm stand
on the declaration of principles and
objectives" written by the Republicans
in Congress, declaration that Senator
Taft had a considerable part in writ
ing. Since then, the Republican Ma
tlonal Convention has written q party
platform, and upon that platform both
Taft and Eisenhower were ready to
stand.
Support of Ticket Important.
Taft's support of the Eisenhower.
Nixon ticket is important. The Ohio
Senator had. and has. a large following
among Republicans throughout the
Nation. A detection from the Eisen-
hover banner by him could be very
serious. AS Republican leader of the
Senate, it would be an extraordinary
act if Senator Taft should plunge a
knife into the G. o. P.'s national ticket.
Either he is "Mr. Republican," as he
has been SO widely called, or he isn't.
If not. 1t would be of interest to know
whether, like Col. Robert Mccormick,
he believes the Republican Party should
be defeated in the coming election and
scrapped in 1854 and 1856. It is in
credible that Senator Taft should have
any such ideas.
Senator Taft has already accepted
number Of engagements to speak in the
Ohio campaign. His brother is running
there for Governor. and his old friend,
John Bricker. is seeking reelection as
Senator. Senator Bricker. at the request
OF Senator Taft. moved to make the
Eisenhower nomination unanimous at
the Chicago convention, and, also at his
request, said that Taft himself would
support the Eisenhower ticket. A great
many of Taft's ardent supporters in the
preconvention campaign have moved
strongly into the campaign to elect
Eisenhower. Gen. Eisenhower is expected
to back up his national chairman and
Senator Carlson in the request that Taft
play major role in this campaign.
The picture which the Stevenson
artists have sought to paint Is a Taft,
first sulking in his tent after the battle
in the Chicago convention, and then a
Taft emerging as lukewarm supporter
OF the Republican ticket-or even an
enemy Of it. Senator Taft himself can
effectively black it out.