Evening star., 1952-04-12
Eisenhower Forces
Now Sure Of VICTORY:
Taft Backers Also
BY the Associated Press

Delighted supporters of Gen.
Eisenhower for President claimed
today his return to the United
States early in June will assure
him the Republican nomination.
But hackers of Senator Taft of
Ohio said Gen. Eisenhower S
resignation as European defense
commander is more likely to help
Senator Taft win top place on the
G. o. P. ticket.
Senator Morse Of Oregon, an
Eisenhower man, said the gen.
erals plans to come home and
doff his uniform mean "he will
be nominated by an overwhelm-
ing vote. and then go on to elec-
ton in November by the greatest
majority in many years."
On the other hand, Senator
Young Of North Dakota, a Taft
supporter. predicted Gen. Eisen-
hover will lose ground in the race
for the nomination "as soon as
he gets back here and has to take
a position on the many contro-
versial issues"
Strong Contender.
Senator Young added that Els
enhower will continue to be al
very strong contender" but said
Senator Taft stands to reap any
political benefits resulting from
the generals resignation.
Eisenhower hackers look for
him to make his first campaign
speech June 4 in his home town
Of Abilene, Kans. Cornerstone
laying ceremonies at an Eisen-
hover museum are scheduled
there that day.
At his Paris headquarters, how
ever. Gen. Eisenhower told a news
conference today he has made no
plans for a political campaign
for the nomination.
Senator Carlson of Kansas, di-
rector of national Eisenhower-for
President headquarters here, said
the general on his return will
discuss with our people the grave
domestic and international prob
lens confronting u.s."
Senator Watkins of Utah, who
IS backing Senator Taft, said that
when Gen. Eisenhower does that
''he will pay the penalty all can
didates pay when they take a |
stand on the iSSueS-he will lose
support"
Duff Highly Pleased.
Senator Young put it this way:
"He won't be able to hang on to
both the ultra conservatives and
the extreme liberals among his
present supporters. One group or
the other is going to desert him."
But Senator Duff of PennSyl-
vania, member of the Eisen-
hower-for-President board of
strategy, said he was "tremend-
ously pleased that the general is
coming home.
This ought to satisfy all de-
mands," Duff added, las I am .
sure what he has to say will be the :
kind of thing the people have
wanted to hear at this time of
great crisis in our country's his
tory"
From the Taft camp, Senator
Butler of Nebraska noted Gen.
Eisenhower said last January that
lin the absence of a clear cut call 1
to political duty he would re- ;
main in Europe as commander of
the North Atlantic Treaty forces.
Primary Setbacks Mentioned.
Il wonder whether he has re-
ceived such a call. and-if So
from whom" Senator Butler
asked. 1T certainly didn't come
from Nebraska. Wisconsin or IL
linois."
That was an allusion to Taft
victories in presidential primaries
in those States.
Senator Taft ran up big
margin over Gen. Eisenhower in
Nebraska, where both he and the
general were write-in candidates.
In Illinois, where Senator Taft's
name was printed on the ballot
but Gen. Eisenhower's was not,
the Ohio senator scored a lop-
sided victory. Gen. Eisenhower
uyos mt in tho XTTicooocio rooo |;