Evening star., 1952-07-02
Eisenhower Backers
AssaiI Taft BIoc's Ban
Against TeIevision
By q stoff Correspondent, Of Tn. s,or


CHICAGO. July 2.-The firm
control OF the Republican Ma
tlonai Committee by the forces
supporting Senator Taft for the
republican presidential nomina-
ton stands revealed today.
Ine committee late yesterday
voted. so to 40, to bar television
i've radio and the newsreels from
the committee hearings on the
convention delegate contests.
Gen. Eisenhower's campaign
leaders. who had battled to have
the hearings televised on the
ground that a television audience
OF some so million should be
given a look at these contests. i'm
medlately shouted: Taft steam
roller and behind Taft's iron
curtain"
Their contention is that Taft
controlled Republican organiza-
lions IN Texas and Louisiana had
stolen" the delegates in those
States. and now propose to seat
them without giving the public a
real. chance to see "the dirty
work"
The rules permit newspaper,
radio and television reporters to
attend and report the proceedings.
But they bar cameramen and
technicianS.
Vote Against Television.
With few exceptions, all the
TAFT supporters went against tele-
vision in the national committee
vote. Senator Taft himself had
notified the committee he was
willing to have television used in
the contest hearings. And Henry
zweifel, Republican national COM
mltteeman and Taft leader in
Texas. was quoted as saying he
favored having the Texas hear
1ngS televised. He voted against
televiSion, however, on the show
down.
The vote against television came
after special committee had re-
ported by vote of to 2 in favor
OF using television. radio and
newsreels at the hearings, with the
facilities pooled by the industries.
The Taft forces, apparently,
were unwilling to permit an Eisen-
hover victory in the National
Committee, even though they
placed themselves in opposition to
the desires of millions OF teIevision
users and placed themselves in the
position to be charged with at
tempting to conceal what goes on.
Fight Will Continue.
The Taft victory does not mean
the fight is ended. Senator Lodge,
campaign manager for Gen.
Eisenhower. and former Senator
Sinclair Weeks, Republican ma
tional committeeman for Massa-
chusetts, both insisted they would
continue the demand for full tele-
vision coverage of all proceedings
Of the national convention and
its Credential Committee. They
also may make another attempt
to open up the National Commit
tee hearings to television.
Senator Lodge said the action
OF the National Committee had
shown a fragrant disregard" OIL
public opinion. 1T is a positive
demonstration" he added, that
they (the Taft forces) are afraid
to have the public watch the pro-
ceedings and are determined tot
try to steamroller their candidate
and their own handpicked states
Of contested delegates through the
convention.
They have shown 'public-be-
damned attitude which will be re-
sented wherever free institutions
are priced. If this is the Taft idea
Of victory, they are welcome
to it.
I'VE will offer the television,
radio and newsreel companies our
complete cooperation and will
make available to them our wit
neSSeS, attorneys and exhibits"
Lodge Points to Voting.
Senator Lodge said that despite
Senator Taft's statement of will
tngness to have television used,
"his own national committeeman
and committeewoman from Ohio, |
voted for the gag rule" and so
did the two Taft committeeman
from the contested Louisiana and
Texas delegations.
Mr.. Weeks commented, II am
sure the reaction of the country
to the success of the Taft forces in
excluding these modern methods
of communication will not be fav-
orable. The American people
have been denied an opportunity
by the Taft-controlled National
Committee to see how the party
operates"
The roll call vote by which tele-
vision was banned had some inter-
esting features. For example, the
two Michigan members of the Ma
tional Committee, Arthur E. Sum-
merfield and Mrs. Ray c. Hooker.
both voted for television coverage.
Mr.. Summerfield is leader of the
important Michigan delegation in
the National Convention, with