Evening star., 1952-05-29
The Political Mill
Toft-Eisenhower Row
Grows Heated in Texas
Lodge Replies to Zweifel on
Overnight Republicans
The Political Mil

Iou9e NePiISS 10 ZWeiTet on
Overnight Republicans
By Gould Lincoln
Democrats are not expected or
invited--to join the Republican Party
until after the Republicans have NOM
mated their presidential and vice presi-
dental candidates, If Republican Ma
tional Committeeman Henry Zweifel Of
Texas, can be believed.
Mr.. Zweifel is the Taft leader in the
Lone Star State. He objects to former
Democrats taking part in the election
of delegates to the Republican National
Convention. He accuses Senator Lodge
of Massachusetts,, Eisenhower campaign
manager, of persuading New Deal DEM
ocrats to cross party lines for the pur-
pose of taking q conservative Republic
can organization. He calls them over
night Republicans" It is not of record
that Mr.. Zweifel has suggested that no
Democrats should help nominate SEN
ator Taft. There was no protest from
Taft ranks when former Democratic
Governor and Secretary Of the Navy
Charles Edison of New Jersey, led q
crusade Tor Taft votes in New Jersey.
and urged other Democrats to join him.
The Texas situation, where the Re-
publican organization controlled by Taft
people. rejected Eisenhower delegates to
the State convention and seated Taft
delegates. on top of similar action in
Louisiana, has brought the Taft-Eisen-
hover ruckus to the boiling point.
Lodge Sees Burglary"
Senator Lodge fatty charges the Taft
forces with burglary" He insists that
mo one whose power is built on the
shifting and malodorous sands of cor
ruption can effectively raise his voice
against corruption by the present DEM
ocratic administration" Predicting that
the Taft forces action in these Southern
states will appear shameful to the pub.
lie, Senator Lodge concludes:
There can be no good future for men
whose orlve Tor power depends on
political zombies-those who, though
politically dead, still try to walk"
Not only do the Taft forces complain
about any acceSsions of voting strength
which Eisenhower may receive from
Democratic - and presumably, inde-
pendent, sources. but they complain
because Gen. Eisenhower is to be given
complete televiSion and radio coverage
when he makes In Abilene, Kans.. his
frSt speech as d private citizen since
ne became receptive candidate for
the presidential nomination. Senator
Taft has already demanded similar time
on the networks to answer Gen. Eisen-
hover. No objection is made by the
Eisenhower managerS-but it can be
pointed out with justice that in the last
four months Senator Taft has had far
more time on the air and on television
than Gen. Eisenhower could possibly
obtain before the q. o. p. national
convention.
The return Of Gen. Ike is making
Democratic candidates for President sit
up and take notice-as well as the Taft
forces. Senator Kefauver Of Tennessee
Is asking network time, too, to reply
to whatever Gen. Eisenhower may say.
The Tennessee Senator. who has shown
himself popular vote-getter In many
primaries since he defeated President
Truman In New Hampshire last March.
undoubtedly will welcome opportunity
to make Nationwide appearance in
answer to Ike. If he gets it. :. raEs
There Is hint in all this that Ike's
opponents, both Republican and Demo-
cratic. are upset over the impression
which the general may make on the
public. It's easy to understand, for
literally millions will be listening and
watching Gen. Eisenhower. finally in
action as candidate.
Still Lead Hopefuls.
Senator Kefauver continues to lead
the procession of Democratic hopefuls-'
for q presidential nomination. He was
able, however, to pick up only FIVE of
Florida's delegate votes in the national
convention to 10 for Senator Russell Of
Georgia. This was a disappointment to
Kefauver forces-who hoped for better
break after the Tennessean had lost to
Russell in the Florida presidential
preference primary by $4,000 in large
vote. The Kefauver managers point out
that the Tennessee Senator was unable
to go back to Florida to campaign for
the second primary because he had to
be in California and South Dakota.
They add that it was remarkable
Senator Kefauver was able to win any
delegates there, since the entire
Florida delegation in Congress. the
Governors organization, and the Demo-
cratic county organizations were work.
ing hard for Mr.. Russell for weeks and
months.
incidentally, Senator Kefauver is ap-
parently to have one-half Of Alabama's
% delegate votes in the national con-
vention, despite all the efforts Of the
Russell hackers. And presumably SEN
ator Kefauver will have the Maryland
delegations votes on the first ballot, at
least, esince he won the preference pri-
mary in that State.
If he wins in California he will pick
up SO more delegates. There James
Roosevelt. son of the late F. D. r., is a
Kefauver delegate candidate. The
Roosevelt family is split in this race.
for Franklin Delano Roosevelt, jr.. Is
sponsoring w. Averell Hartman Of New
York for the nomination.
Nuee$;one nnd Aneweye