Evening star., 1952-03-18
The Political Mill
Popularity Test Vote !
Due in Massachusetts
Primary 'Stickers' VIII Be Used
For Eisenhower and Kefouver
The Political Mil
By Gould Lincoln

By Gould Lincoln
For months it has been. argued that
President Truman, on the Democratic
side, and Senator Taft Of Ohio, on the
Republican side. could not be stopped
in the races for the presidential nomi.
nations Of their respective parties. The
reason they had "the organization"
with them. 1t has been explained at
length that the President. because Of his
dominant position, could have the nomi-
nation by merely turning over his hand.
And by the same token. it was argued
that Senator Taft. having the great bulk
Of the Republican organization leaders
in his camp, would defeat all comers.
In the Republican race. Gen. Dwight
D. Eisenhower, receptive but not an
active candidate. has been called the
candidate of the rank and file, with
great popular support. In the Demo-
cratic race. Senator Kefauver OF Ten
neSsee was the first to announce he
would run against President Truman
even II Mr.. Truman decided to seek re-
nomination. Like Gen. Eisenhower. his
only chance is to demonstrate he has
real rank-and-file following.
First Test Decisive.
The first test was the New Hampshire
primary. Both Gen. Eisenhower and
Senator Kefauver made clean sweep.
The voters had q chance to Speak--and
they left no doubt in any ones mind
they, as majority, preferred Gen.
Eisenhower as Republican candidate,
and Mr.. Kefauver as a Democratic can
didate In the Republican primary. 1t Is
true, Gen. Eisenhower had the support
Of Gov. Adams and many other impor-
tant figures in the party. But the Taft
people claimed. and had, the aid Of
very considerable number Of the So
called organization leaders, at the State.
ward and precinct level.
It Is not surprising, therefore, that
the friends of Gen. Eisenhower and of
Mr.. Kefauver are now eager for other
tests. In the Minnesota primary, for
example, where neither Gen. Eisenhower
nor Senator Kefauver were entered. an
effort Is being made today to have as
many "write-in" votes as possible cast for
Gen. Eisenhower and for Mr.. 'Kefauver.
And now it is disclosed an effort will be
made to have Massachusetts, Republican
voters write in Gen. EisenhowerS name
in the Bay State primary April 70. The
presidential preference vote IS being used
in the Massachusetts, primary for the
first time in Is years. While Gen. Eisen-
hover has strong support in the State,
backed as he is by both Republican Sem
ators, Lodge and Saltonstall, because Of
the fact he is on active duty with the
Army he has been unable to enter the
Massachusetts, contest, although slate
of delegates favorable to him has been
entered. Senator Taft has q slate Of
delegates. and their names appear on
the ballot as favorable to him.
Bay State "Ike" Stickers.
The popularity poll" In Massachu-
sets is not binding on the delegates
but will be sampling Of the sentiment
of Massachusetts, voters. Eisenhower
hackers are planning to have ''stickers."
bearing Eisenhower'S name. printed for
use by the voters in the primary. The
Taft people say they hope that the
voters will express their preference for
the Senator in the popularity contest.
but point out they can accomplish this
end by voting for the Taft-pledged
delegates. 4e.fS 2He1. & ATT
The organization Democrats in Mas
for Senator Kefauver. They have
charged that petitions filed in two con-
gressional districts for Kefauver dele-
gates did not carry the name Kefauver
at the time they were signed, and seek
to prevent the printing Of Kefauver's
name on the ballot in one district and
the elimination of the Kefauver dele
gate candidates in the other. Chair
man John c. Carr Of the Democratic
State Committee has made the charge.
The slate of delegates filed by Mr.. Carr
and his organization friends are for
President Truman. The President gave
no assent to the use of his name in
the primary and therefore his name does
not appear in connection with the Carr
slate. Some of the organization Demo-
Gratis are talking about write-in drive
for the President.
The big tests are still to come In
the effort to establish the popularity
Of both Gen. Eisenhower and Senator
Kefauver. Eisenhower's name will be
in the primaries in New Jersey April
Is, in Pennsylvania April "a, and In Ore
gon May 16. In none Of these States
did the general have to give assent to
the entry of his name. Senator Ke-
fauver is entered in the following pri-
maries: NebUaska April l, where he runs
against Senator Kerr Of Oklahoma;
Wisconsin April l, where he runs against
Charles Broughton and Jerome Fox,
both favorite-son candidates for Mr..
Trumsn; Illinois April 8. where he is
unopposed: New Jersey April Is, where
he is so far unopposed; Maryland May
s.; Ohio May 6, where he runs against
former Senator Bulkley, pro-Truman
favorite son; Oregon May 16, where
he runs against Associate Justice Doug
las of the Supreme Court and Gov.
Stevenson Of Illinois; Florida May ~.
where he runs against Senator Russell
Of Georgia, and possibly pro-Truman
slate of delegates.
Obviously. the way is open for DEM
onstrations Of popular strength by both
Gen. Eisenhower and Senator Kefauver
II they can make them.