Evening star., 1952-01-05
The Political Mil
Runaway Race by Toft
Prediction Is Premature
Pre-convention compoien
Brings Heated Claims
By Gould Lincoln

Predictions that Senator Taft of Ohio
VIII run away with the Republican pres
idential nomination. before his -oppe-
nentS get around to campaigning. seem
premature.
These claims have aroused the usually
placid Gov. Earl Warren of California
to such pitch that he rushed into print
with statement calling the claims
OF the Taft campaign managers "ar-
rogant," false" and insulting" Fur
ther. Harold e. Stassen, former Cover
nor Of Minnesota and now president of
the University of Pennsylvania, has an
nounced he will invade Ohio, Mr.. Taft's
home State, In search of Stassen-
pledged delegates. And Senator Lodge
OF Massachusetts, campaign manager
for the draft -Eisenhower" movement,
Is. declaring the Taft claims of delegate
strength fantastic. Obviously the pre-
convention campaign is warming Up.
Assigned Spots on Program.
This increased activity among the
candidates and their supporters will ad-
vance step further later this month,
when the Republican National Commit
tee meets in San Francisco. Instead Of
trying to keep aloof from presidential
politics, Republican National Chairman
Guy George Gabrielson has invited the
candidates for the presidential nornina-
tion to come before the national COM
mittee and do their stuff.
Gov. Warren and Mr.. Stassen have
accepted. Whether Senator Taft viii
go to San Francisco to address the as
Sembled Republican leaders-from all
sections Of the country-er leave it to
some representative to speak for him
remains to be seen.
Gen. Eisenhower, who never has an
nounced his candidacy, is expected to be
represented by Senator Lodge All four
Of these men have been assigned spots
on the national committees program.
Senator Taft and Gov. Warren are
slated for speeches on January II, and
Senator Lodge and Mr.. StasSen on
January 18.
Mr.. Stassen's entry into the Ohio
primary indicates there will be no quar-
ter asked or given in this fight for the
presidential nomination. His statement
about his entry there called attention to
the fact that Senator Taft was invading
Mr.. Stassen's home State when he
appointed Roy E. Dunno, Republican
national committeeman for Minnesota,
campaign manager in Minnesota. Also.
when Senator Taft appointed John D.
M. Hamilton as his campaign manager
in Pennsylvania, the Ohio Senator was
going into Mr.. Stassen's home State by
adoption.
'4S Primaries Recalled.
This oofiovn hu GoVo TEof
seems just as chubby" as Stassen's en-
try into the presidential primary
in Ohio in 1948. Mr.. Stassen did gather
In a few delegates in the Taft State,
but while he was campaigning in Ohio
he left the field in Oregon free and
uncontested to Gov. Dewey of New York.
Gov. Dewey won the Oregon primary,
regaining lost prestige because of his
defeat by Mr.. Stassen in Wisconsin and
Nebraska. If Mr.. Stassen had spent
this valuable time campaigning in Ore
gon,s the history Of 1948 might have been
different. -.-.- .-,.- .-...-. .. 49,
It seems clear now, however, that Mr..
Stassen will be driving force to pre-
vent, if possible, Senator Taft from gar
rlering delegates in number Of presi-
Dental primary States. It is going to
be extremely interesting to learn whether
the name Of Gen. Dwight D. Eisen-
hover is also to be entered in some Of
these primaries, or whether the pro-
Eisenhower people will rally to Mr..
Stassen in the hope he will be a stum-
bling block in the way of Senator Taft.
The Republican nomination has be-
come a thing of value, according to
many political leaders who foresee the
G. o. P. taking over control Of the Gov
eminent next year.