Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-03
The Political Mill:
Tuft-Eisenhower Bottle
Could End in Deadlock
Prospects Take on New Luster
For Compromise Candidate
By Gould Lincoln

Senator Taft's victories in the Wis
consin and Nebraska primaries put an
end. temporarily at least and perhaps
early decision in the race for the
favor Of Gen. Dwight D. Eisen-
hover. It looks now as though
there may be stubborn and indecisive
battle between the two leading candi-
dates right up to the opening of the
Republican National Convention. Had
Senator Taft lost in either one of Tues
days contests the Eisenhower band
wagon would have really rolled. If Mr..
Taft and Gen. Eisenhower enter the
convention running neck and neck, the
prospects of a deadlock and agreement
on compromise candidate will take on
new luSter.
It may be expected that the Taft VIC
tories will have their influence on the
outcome of delegate races in other
StateS-for example in Michigan and in
Iowa. where district and State conven-
tons will come up in the next few days.
In both those States, the Eisenhower
people have made gains since the New
Hampshire and Minnesota primaries
which gave the general a great boost.
Now they will have to fight hard to get
an even break with the Taft adherents,
and the results could easily still further
increase Taft prestige.
Long Road for Taft Forces.
Taft forces still have long road to
go. The New Jersey preferential pri-
mary, for example. will be held less
than two weeks hence. 1t is expected to
60 strongly for Gen. Eisenhower. The
Ohio Senator attempted to pull out of
1t when Gov Driscoll announced for Gen.
Eisenhower. He has been unable to get
his name off the New Jersey ballot,
and apparently will content himself with
saying, If he loses to Gen. Eisenhower,
he did not try to win. He has charged
that Gov. Driscoll double-crossed him;
that the Governor promised not to come
out publicly for Gen. Eisenhower. It
has been generally known for a long
time, however, that the New Jersey
Governor did favor Gen. Eisenhower.
Another primary in which Gen. Essen
hover has been entered and from which
Senator Taft has held aloof is that in
Oregon. There Senator Taft must rely
on Gov. Warren of California and
Harold E. Stassen to slow down the
Eisenhower wagon. If Ike does we'll
in both these primaries, his prestige
again will be on the up and up.
One other result the Wisconsin and
Nebraska primaries had. They made
it extremely difficult, if not impossible,
for Harold Stassen to become COM
promise candidate for the Republican
presidential nomination if there should
be a deadlocked convention, and en-
tlrely impossible for him to win the
nomination in the first instance.
Warren Strong Contender.
On the other hand. the strong run
which Gov. Warren of California made
IN the Wisconsin primary. winning out
OF the 30 Wisconsin delegates to the
Republican National Convention, has
placed the Governor as q strong and
likely contender for the nomination if
Senator Taft and Gen. Eisenhower fail
to make the grade. It was obvious.
however, that Gov. Warren inherited
lot OF Eisenhower strength in Wiscon-
sin simply because it was impossible
for the voters to ballot for Gen. Eisen-
mower. Ike was not entered there.
and the law did not permit write-in
votes.
Mr. Stassen, however, proposes to 20
right ahead campaigning on his plat
form in other primary States, including
New Jersey and Oregon, where he NAV
cut into the Eisenhower vote. It may
be noted that Senator Taft. when he
was asked if he thought Mr.. Stassen
should withdraw, replied: II am not
giving Mr.. Stassen advice"
Eisenhower managers deny fatty that
the results in Wisconsin and Nebraska
have dented their hopes for the nomina-
ton OF Gen. Eisenhower. On the con-
trary. they point to the fact that Sena-
tor Taft was far short of a majority
OF the vote cast in the Republican pri-
mary In either of those States, and
contend he won because the anti-Taft
vote was strongly divided.