Evening star., 1952-02-02
The Political Mil
The Political Mil
Eisenhower Declines Bid
To Tolk in Philadelphia
He Had Accepted tentatively
Invitation for Mureh 4
Dy Gould Lincoln

Gen. Dwight p. Eisenhower has finally
declined an Invitation to deliver Q nom
political speech, dealing with the NATO
and its problems, In the forum conducted
by the philadelphia Evening Bulletin.
Originally, the general had tentatively
accepted the invitation and was to have
spoken In Philadelphia March 4. A let
ter received from him within the last
week made 1t clear his duties in Europe
would make it impossible to come to this
country ct that time.
This seems to make it clear the gen.
eral cannot be expected to return to the
United States before April or May-f
then. However, Eisenhower -Presi-
dent campaign managers continue to ex-
press q hope and belief that some way
viii be found to bring the general back.
and barring that, to have him present
his views on the issues Of the day to
the American people prior to the Re-
publican National Convention which
opens July Z.
The campaign to line up national con-
vention delegates for Gen. Eisenhower
and to show the strong public sentiment
that exists for the generals nomination
they say. They also point out that Gen.
Eisenhower's presence at the important
NATO meetings in Lisbon later this
month is vitality needed and explains his
reluctance to visit the United States in
the near future.
Insists on Real Demand.
Gen. Eisenhower has made known his
willingness to accept q presidential
nomination at the hands of the Re.
publican Party-provided there Is real
demand for him. He has made it
abundantly clear, however, he does not
propose to request he be released from
his present important post to campaign
for nomination. President Truman was
quick to say he had no intention Of
releasing Gen. Eisenhower from the SUI
preme command Of NATO unless the
general requested release. Pretty good
politics for the Democrats II they are
afraid of Gen. Eisenhower as q presi-
Dental candidate.
The recourse Of the millions Of voters
who would like to see Gen. Eisenhower
nominated Is to show In primary elec-
tionS (Which Mr.. Truman has described
as "eyewaSh"), In district and State
conventions. and in other public express
sionS their support Of the general. It
may still be done effectively IN the
absence Of the general.
The position in which Gen. EiSen-
hover finds himself explains In consider
able measure the decision Of Harold e.
Stassen, former Minnesota Governor
and at present president of the Uni
versity of Pennsylvania on leave, to
enter the race for the Republican presi-
Dental nomination. This decision, it
will be remembered. was made by Mr..
StasSen after he had conferred with
Gen. Eisenhower in Paris In December.
Mr.. Stassen felt that inability Of Gen.
Eisenhower to return to this country
during the first 80 days Of the new year
lin which filing dates for State pri-
marieS fall, In which convention dele
gates are chosen, and IN which impor-
tant political commitments are usually
made-would prove material handicap.
Differs Seriously With Taft.
It Is no secret that Mr.. Stassen does
not want the control Of the Republican
Party to fall into the hands Of Senator
Taft Of Ohio-with whom he differs
seriously both on foreign and domestic
issues. So Mr.. Stassen entered the race
and challenged Senator Taft In the
Wisconsin, Illinois and Ohio presidential
preference primaries.
Mr. Stassen felt he had to choose be-
tween a campaign on his part to aid
Gen. Eisenhower, whom he admires.
and q frontal attack in the primaries
and in State and district party con-
ventions to win the nomination for HIM
self. He chose the latter course. A crucial
test win come in the Wisconsin primary.
where he will oppose Senator Taft in q
struggle for convention delegates, on
April /. He and his managers say they
have been encouraged by what they
have found In that State, and Mr.. Stas-
sen plans to campaign there In March.
Rarely has the fight for presidential
nomination been so briSkly waged at so
early q date. The Republicans are rush.
ing up and down the country. On the
Democratic side Of the fence, President
Truman remains In Washington. re-
peating again and again that the Demo-
cratic presidential nomination is his II
he wants to reach out and take it. SEN
ator Kefauver Of Tennessee, alone among
the Democrats, has had the temerity to
challenge this claim. He has tossed his
coonskin cap-not mink-in the ring
and is entering primary test after pri-
mary test. which Mr.. Truman disdains
to enter.