Evening star., 1952-07-05
The Dork-Horse General

On MONDAY nlgnC General OF the Army
Douglas Macarthur will take the stage at the
Chicago Convention Hall to deliver the keynote
address of the Republican National Convention.
At that moment he may well command the
largest audience-through personal attendance,
radio and television-ever to listen to an Ameri-
can political utterance
It will be an audience motivated by many
things, not the least of which will be the sheer
anticipation of listening to one Of the most
eloquent orators Of our times. For others, their
greatest interest will be to hear the generals
plan OF battle for victorious Republican cam
paign. For many there will probably be the
hope that he will extend dramatic Endorsement
to Senator Taft, known to be his preference as
against General Eisenhower for the nomination.
But for many also there will be awareness that
they are listening to one whose name Is now
most frequently mentioned as the compromise
choice If the Taft Eisenhower rivalry ends in an
unbreakable deadlock.
The possibility and its frequent mention
warrant second look at the Macarthur
qualifications.
General Macarthur was 72 last January
26. II nominated and elected President, he
would be less than q week short of 73 on his
inauguration day, next January 20. No President
Of the United States has ever been In his
been William Henry Harrison at 68. General
Macarthur is professional soldier of great
distinction although it is worthy of notice that
he earned widespread commendation for his
policies and administration, quasi-civil in nature,
OF the occupation Of Japan. It is fact, however,
that he had been absent from this country for
nearly Is years when he returned in April, 1851,
and that he is relatively unfamiliar with domestic
and European problems. Indeed, some of those
who look upon him as strong dark-horse posi-
bility are reserving their own attitudes toward
him until his views on certain domestic problems
can be aScertained.
The belief that the general might be an
effective candidate is seemingly grounded in his
oratorical prowess and q remembrance Of the
mass emotionalism that was aroused on his
return to the United States IS months ago. Such
an appraisal Of his political attraction is not
supported however by the record Of his venture
into the 1948 campaign.
In March of that year, General Macarthur,
then 6s, sent word to his followers that he would
not shrink" from the presidency If called by
the American people" While he did not return
to the country for personal entry in the cam
paign, his friends entered him in several
primaries and fought hard to gain him public
support. The results were not impressive.
In Wisconsin, his home State, he was badly
beaten by Harold StaSsen, winning only eight
delegates as against 10 for Mr.. Stassen In a
result that surprised objective observers. In
Nebraska the general trailed Stassen, Dewey.
Taft and Vandenberg in that order while
receiving only 1000 popular votes In Pennsyl-
vania, he ran fourth behind Stassen, Dewey and
Senator Martin, favorite son. In California, the
Macarthur supporters admitted they had been
unable to get enough signatures to put his name
on the primary ballot.
The emotions aroused by the generals
removal as commander in the Far East might
bring him greater public Endorsement in 1852
than he received in 1913. 1t strains political
logic, however, to believe that success for the
Republican Party today must be sought through
the leadership of man as controversial as
General Macarthur, at his age and with his
record of Indifferent political appeal four years
ago.