Evening star., 1952-06-24

The Political Mill I,
Hide Goes With Carcass
UsuolIyin U. S. Elections
Congress Candidates Seek
Strongest 6. o. P. Ticket
BY Gould Lincoln
In national elections in the United
States the hide usually goes with the
carcass. That is, the political party
which elects q President usually elects
a majority in both houses Of Congress.
To the Republican members Of the Sem
ate and of the House, therefore. 1t be-
comes Of prime importance, so far as
their personal ambitions and political
fate are concerned, that the strongest
possible candidate for President be NOM
mated by the Republican National Con-
vention when it meets next month In
Chicago.
The matter goes beyond that. Repub-
lican Governors and other State officers
running for reelection, and Republican
candidates for these offices. all have
stake in the presidential election. Too
often in the last score Of years Repub-
lican oficeholders who have won handily
in the "off years." have failed miserably
when a Republican presidential candi-
date was taking drubbing at the hands
of his Democratic opponent.
It is to be expected that, irrespective
Of their likes and dislikes. Republican
officeholders and candidates for office
will think carefully before they plunk
finally for candidate for the presiden-
tial nomination. From their point Of
view, the country needs a Republican
candidate who can win next November
and they need one, too.
Race Goes Into Stretch.
AS the race for the presidential nomi-
nation between Senator Taft Of Ohio
and Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower goes
into the stretch, more and more Repub-
licans are asking themselves which Is
the more likely winner against o DEM
ocratic nominee. A few months ago the
chant went up that any Republican
could win this time. 1t was expected,
too, in many quarters that President
Truman would seek reelection. The Re-
publican claim was that the President.
in the light of the disclosures OF cor
ruption in various bureaus of the Fed
eral Government and Mr.. Trumans
failure to bring the Korean war TO
successful conclusion, was sure loser.
The picture is different today. Mr.. Tru-
man has said he will not run again. In
addition, the fact that more Americans
have more jobs with higher pay than
ever before and may not want to change
party horses is beginning to seep into
political thinking. If the Democrats pick
a presidential nominee Of the caliber OF
Gov. Adlai Stevenson Of Illinois, and
there are a number of them, Republican
victory in November may become dlttl-
cult in the extreme.
Twenty Republican Senators are up
for reelection, and IA Democrats. Eight
of these Republican Senators. at least.
face real fights. Will Senator Taft aid
in the reelection of Senator KEN OF
Missouri, of Senator Cain OF Wash
ington, Of Senator Ives Of New York. OF
Senator Lodge of Massachusetts, OF
Senator Watkins of Utah, OF Senator
Ecton of Montana, of Senator Malone
of Nevada, or of Senator Williams OF
Delaware? Or will Gen. Eisenhower.
running at the head of the Republican
ticket, strengthen these Republican
senatorial candidates?
Vulnerable Democrats.
On the Democratic side, seven DEM
ocratic Senators seeking reelection
could be vulnerable If the Republicans
put forward their strongest standard
bearer. They are Benton of Connect
icut, Moody of Michigan, Mahoney OF
MARYLAND dominated in place OF
Senator O'Conor who declined to run)
OMahoney of Wyoming, Chavez OF New
Mexico, Kilgore Of West Virginia and
Pastore Of Rhode Island. It will make
lot of difference to the Republicans who
are named to run against these DEM
ocrats. If the G. o. P. convention picks
q winning presidential nominee. And by
the same token, it could sink them II
the convention should nominate loser.
On an even larger scale. Republicans
will win or fail in their races for House
membership, depending on whether the
party picks winning presidential
nominee It behooves, therefore. Repub-
lican candidates for Office and Repub-
lican rank -and-file voters to see to 1t
that the party'S national convention
makes no mistake when it names its
national ticket. All the good intentions
of the Republicans shrivel to nothing
II they cannot win an election.
Which one Of these leading candidates.
Senator Taft or Gen. Eisenhower. Is
the more able to win to his cause the
great mass of so-called independent
voters, who wear no party collar. or
wear one lightly? Which Of them is
likely to win over Democrats to vote for
the G. o. P. ticket next fall? Is 1t the
candidate who, in the race for the pres
idential nomination, bolts the door
against all who have not in the past
voted Republican-unless they vote for
him? Or is it the candidate who well
comes such support? Can a candidate
kick these people In the face in July and
expect their support in November?
Questions and Answers
The stars readers can get the answer to
any question OF fact either writing The