Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-02-17
By J. A. o'Leory


The progress at Lisbon this week
on Western defense plans may have
more effect on the race for the Re
publican presidential nomination
than all the Lincoln Day speeches
delivered across the Nation last week
by G. O. P. orators.
II all were to go well at the NATO
Council meeting and in the prelimi-
nary talks of Secretary of State Ache
son with the British and French For
eign Ministers over West Germany'S
part in the defense plans, it could
have decided effect on Gen. Eisen-
hower's candidacy. Smooth sailing at
Lisbon would add to the generals
prestige and make it easier for him
to come home in a few months.
Conversely, however. if difficulties
over formation of the European
Army are not ironed out it will
strengthen the position of those who
argue Gen. Eisenhower is still needed
more in his present post than in the
White House. And the Lisbon pros
poets are dubious, to say the least as.
is explained in the adjoining columns
The general apparently expects his
NATO job to pin him in Europe at
least until. June, since he has notified
West Point that 'the press Of official
duties" will keep him from attend
ing the academy's sesquicentennial
observance, which continues through
May.
Eight Developments
Highlights of the week were:
/. Oklahoma Republicans COM
plated the selection of 16 delegates
to the national convention, seven for
Eisenhower, seven for Taft and two
for Gen. Macarthur.
2. After q White House visit Tues
day. 85-year-old Representative Sab
ath, Democrat, of Illinois told re-
porters the President said he might
be willing to run again II he felt 1t
was necessary to speed peace.
8. Amid growing indications that
the Republican race has narrowed
down to q two-man contest between
Taft and Eisenhower, Harold Stas-
sen, another Republican aspirant, be-
gan to picture himself as the COM
promise candidate If the front-run-
ners get into q deadlock. He told
news conference in Oklahoma he is
after second-choice delegate votes.
4. There were others. however,
who saw Gen. Macarthur as more
likely dark horse If Gen. Essen
hover and Senator Taft head each
other of. Senator Aiken, Repub-
lican, of Vermont was one of these.
He said he thinks Senator Taft has
reached peak strength and may lose
ground because many people be-.
lieve he could not win in November
If nominated. The Vermont Sena-
tor also said he believes Gen. Eisen-
hover will be through as con-
tender unless he starts fighting"
soon.
S. New Hampshire continued to
hold the spotlight as the first State
in which voters generally will have
O chance to express their prefer
ence among all the leading con-
tenders of both parties. (The Okla
homa delegates were chosen by the
convention system0 The New Hamp-
shire primaries are on March 4. In
his first speech there a week ago
Senator Kefauver made it clear his
fight to replace Mr.. Truman Is not
going to be a kid-glove affair. The
man with the coon-skin cap took a
dig at the Presidents description Of
primaries as eye-wash and also
hammered away at morality in Gov
eminent.
6. New Jersey amended its laws
last week to provide for o Statewide
presidential popularity poll along
with its regular April Is primary for
the selection on convention delegates.
Since the new law permits the filing
OF any ones name with q given num-
Der Of petitioners. it is regarded in
some quarters as means of ascer-
tanning Gen. EiSenhowers strength
there. Military regulations would
prevent the general from taking the
initiative to enter the primary, but
his supporters may file his name
anyway.
Z. Connecticut uses the convention
method Of picking its delegates but
last week the Republicans In the
town of West Hartford decided to
hold an unoficial primary OF their
own. The result was q vote of three
10 one for Eisenhower over Taft.