Evening star., 1952-06-01
Taft Backers brisAe +.
Al Free Trips Offer
OF Eisenhower Camp


Fire burst forth on various
fronts yesterday against plan
for expense-paid trips by Repub-
lican convention delegates to meet
Gen. Eisenhower.
The homeward-bound general
has not indicated whether he ap-
proves the plan disclosed by Eisen-
hower-for-P President headquarters
here. But one of his leading back
ers. Senator Ives. Republican, of
New York. declared the supporters
of Senator Taft's presidential am
bitions were "grasping for an
Senator Young, Republican, of
North Dakota, demanded that
Gen. Eisenhower repudiate the
the plan. He described it as 'un-
doubtedly the most unfortunate
plan ever initiated by any political
organization"
Taft Speaks Today.
Senator Taft himself may have
something to, say about it. He
arranged to take to radio and
television this afternoon with two
broadcasts billed mainly as a
major foreign policy speech.
The talk-with- Eisenhower plan,
as described here, involves an in
vitation to each Republican ma
tlonal convention delegate to call
on the general in New York City,
Denver or the generals home
town, Abilene, Kans. Expenses
would be paid by local, not ma
tional. Eisenhower organizations
II not borne by delegates. a head
quarters spokesman said here. |
Democrats were not slow to
add fuel to the flaming COP
squabble. Gael Sullivan, cam |
paign manager for Senator Ke-
fauver of Tennessee, seeking the
Democratic presidential rlomina-
ton. called the plan gross
bribery" He declared that the
Justice Department ought to see
whether the Corrupt Practices
Act has been violated.
Issue In South Dakota.
The fight has already become a
hot issue in the Republican pri-
mary battle in South Dakota.
Former Gov. George T. Nicholson.
who heads slate of delegates for
Gen. Eisenhower, recently visited
the general in Paris.
David S. ingalls,, campaign
manager for Senator Taft. raised
a question as to whether the
Eisenhower national committee
paid for that trip. Mr.. Mickelson
said ne did not know what the
bill was but that he spent $500
OF his own money. He denied that
South Dakota Republican dele
gates will get a free trip to DenyerJ
or anywhere else to talk with Gen
Eisenhower.
AS for the plan in general. Mr..
ingalls, asserted: 1T comes pretty
close to efforts at bribery and is
only one example of the money
poured by Wall Street into the
Eisenhower campaign"
Calls Bids Command
John D. M. Hamilton, Senator
Taft's Eastern campaign manager.
Ilkened the invitations to a com /.
mand" to appear before Gen.
Eisenhower.
H thought it was the custom in
this country for q candidate to
go TO the people wherever they
may be and ask for their sup /,
port. he said. sOf course, this is
only in line with the generals ,
announced policy that if the peo-
pie want me for President they
know where to find me'-all ex-
penses paid, that is" !,
Mr.. Hamilton estimated that
the plan might cost about $500 /
600 for all the delegates and all
ternates.
Senator Ives declared, however
chat the criticism was ridiculous
he said it was silly to suggest
that bribery was involved.
Ives Defends Plan.
AS understand it these meet
1ngs with Eisenhower are being set
up for an exchange of views" he
explained. After all, other candi- |.
dates for the nomination have /
oeen roaming the country for
months at the expense of their
organizations in an effort to win
delegates.
Eisenhower hasn't had the op-
portunity because he has beent
on active duty in the Army. There
isn't time now for him to travel
all over the country before the
convention in July, even if he
wanted to do so. So what is
more logical than to have the /
delegates come to him. if they
care to do so.'
President Truman was brought
into the pre-convention picture
Yesterday in the form of a warn
ing by a Republican House mem
Der that Mr.. Truman has skill
fully maneuvered to keep himself
IN the race for reelection. Repre-
sentative Reed of New York pre- |
olcted that Mr.. Truamn will be
the Democratic nominee again |
Sy virtue of the most sinister