Evening star., 1952-05-29
Taft Adds Strength
In Alabama; Leads in
Race by 70 Votes
BY the Associated Press


The sound and fury of the Taft
Eisenhower duel for Republican
presidential nominating votes
were echoing today in Alabama
and South Dakota and Washing
ton.
With Senator Taft Of Ohio
just about through campaigning
and Gen. Eisenhower expected
home in few days, the Associated
Press tabulation of pre-conven-
ton delegate strength now shows:
Senator Taft, 405; Gen. Eisen-
hover. 3S5.
Nomination at the July Z ma
tional convention in Chicago re-
quires 604 delegate votes. The
Associated Press tally is based on
concessions. pledges. instructions
and avowed preferences.
Senator Taft was assured today
of a majority Of Alabama's IA
delegates. 4
His hackers claimed 10 votes as
the Alabama Republican conven-
tion met in Birmingham to COM
|plete the delegation by picking
four at-large members. Eisen-
hover people conceded Senator
Taft q Notwithstanding Taft's
name would be placed first in
nomination since Alabama heads
the alphabetical roll call.
South Dakota Fight Seen.
An Associated Press survey
showed today that South Dakota s
daily newspaper editors look for
Ia Taft-Eisenhower photo finish in
the States June 3 primary.
The editors estimates, weighted
according to population of areas
covered. give Senator Taft a slight
edge, 51.2 per cent to Gen. Eisen-
hower's 48.8.
The primary is the last clear
cut contest between Senator Taft
and Gen. Eisenhower before the
convention. It is a winner-take-
all proposition, with IA Republican
and eight Democratic delegates at
stake.
On the Democratic side, the
editors put a delegate slate
pledged to Senator Kefauver of
Tennessee ahead of one for Sen
ator Humphrey of Minnesota. The
percentage: Kefauver. $50; Hum
|phrey, 44.4.
Fear Party Split.
In Washington, meanwhile. two
Republican Senators said the
Taft Eisenhower .joust could be
generating enough heat to melt
the party's chances in the Novem-
Oer general election.
A Taft man, Milton Young of
North Dakota. was particularly
disturbed over intra-party strife
like that in Texas. where rival
Taft and Eisenhower delegations
are vying for recognition.
ANY split of that kind is verv
bad for the party" Senator Young
said. land could hurt our chances
If the differences aren't patched
up"
Senator Mundt Of South Da-
kota, who has kept his own coun-
sci about whom he will support,
said:
II see a possibility that many
Of the followers of the candidate
who loses may kind of sit on their
hands and let the parade 60 by,
instead Of pitching in to help elect
the man who wins the nomina-
ton"
Senator Taft has said he would
work for Gen. Eisenhower's elec-
ton If the general is nominated.
One question sure to come UP
when Gen. Eisenhower holds q
news conference next Thursday in
Abilene. Kans.:
Will the general reciprocate?
Tennessee Democrats Meet.
At Nashville, Tennessee Demo-
Gratis select q 28-vote delegation,
expected to be pledged to ballot
as one for home-stater Kefauver.
Tennessee's Democratic executive
committee has contributed $4,000
to Kefauver's campaign.
The Tennessee Senator leads the
Associated Press tabulation of
|pre-convention delegate strength.
He has 122. compared with 86h
for Georgia's Senator Russell and
85h for w. Averell Hartman,
mutual security director.
Mr.. Hartman was described
yesterday as strong enough and
brave enough, wise enough and,
most Of all. humble enough" to
be president.
This praise came from Illinois