Evening star., 1952-04-28
McKe|din May Face
Test Of Eisenhower
Stand in Primary
BY the Associated Press

BALTIMORE. April 28.-Mary.
land takes its first voting test o1
sentiment in the presidential
sweepstakes a week from today
but only indirectly in the Taft
Eisenhower tug-of-war.
The May primaries might de-
termine if Gov. McKeldin can GO
to the Republican National Con-
vention with Maryland's "a votes
in his pocket for Gen. Eisenhower,
despite overwhelming sentiment
for Senator Taft in the organized
elements of his party.
The primaries also give Senator
Kefauver a chance to. put Mary
lands 18 Democratic convention
votes under lock and key.
Senator Kefauver is the only
presidential candidate on the bal
lot. <Write-in votes are not legal.
Senate Nomination Is Test.
The test of Gov. McKeldin's
leaning toward Gen. Eisenhower
Is only indirect, stemming from
the strong hand he has taken in
a contest for the Republican NOM
ination to the Senate. If his man
loses he may have to shift gears.
The Democratic presidential
preferential primary in which
Senator Kefauver IS running bare
ly binds any one to anything.
Associated Press reporters check
ing through Maryland's % coun-
ties found pair of paradoxes:
l. Almost without exception,
Republican committeeman, dele
gates to the party's State con-
vention next month, and Republic
can Office holders are in favor Of
voting for Gov. McKeldin for
President on the first ballot at
Chicago. Most are willing to fol-
low him after that, even to Gen.
Eisenhower. But most of these
same grass roots Republicans per-
sonally favor Senator Taft for
President.
Kefauver's Chances Cited.
2. Every one expects Senator
Kefauver to poll more votes than
a nobody on the ballot called "un-
instructed delegation. But most
Democratic committeeman, dele
gates to the State convention, and
Office holders expect the party to
send an uninstructed delegation
to Chicago.
But the great bulk of organiza-
tion Democrats in Maryland have
not picked their favorite for a.
Democratic nominee. All the
mentioned candidates have fans.
There is no crystalized' sentiment
for any of them.
The Republican Governor faces
a crystalized sentiment on the
Republican side of the fence.
Gov. McKeldin in recent weeks
has been showing a disposition to
throw his support to Gen. Eisen-
hover. He visited the general in
Paris two weeks ago. Gov. Nc
Keldin took the occasion to point
out that he is a strong ally Of
New York'S Gov. Dewey and Gov.
Dewey is strong for Gen. Eisen-
hover.
A few weeks earlier Gov. Nc
Keldin was saying he would be
happy to run for Vice President
on a Taft ticket.
Switch Set OFF Reaction.
The apparent switch touched
off a reaction. The Governor has
a little revolt waiting for him
when he gets back late this week
from a speaking tour in Israel.
The survey of the States pro-
fessional Republicans-they are
strong for Senator Taft-indicates
belief among them the Governor
has not gone so far for Gen.
Eisenhower he could not gracefully
back up and be for Senator Taft.
But most of them say they will
stick with the Governor where
ever he goes.
This does not apply to some top
party leaders in the State who al
ways have been lukewarm to Gov.
McKeldin over the long years it
took him to vault from bank clerk
to Governor.
They are plotting ways to block
him from going for Gen. Eisen-
hover, or at least save some Of
the "a convention votes for Sena-