Evening star., 1952-03-09
New Hampshire Results
Won t Affect Realities
Facts Of Political Life
Not Altered in Primuries
By Fronk Z. Kent

intensely concentrated upon the New
Hampshire primaries ON Tuesday next
than in any denomination contest for
q long time. These are the primaries
earlier referred to by Mr.. Truman as
"eyewash."
"Eyewash" they may be, hut with
his full consent Mr.. Truman's name has
been entered at the insiStence of the
Democratic national chairman, and
every effort is being made to prevent
Senator Estes Kefauver from gaining
the preference vote by default. The
sort of campaign the latter is making is
convincing evidence he does not regard
the result as "eyewash" at all. The au-
thorized entrance of the President Is
evidence that he does not want the
Tennessee Senator to get any kind Of
encouragement.
On the Republican, side the contest
is even more colorful and spirited.
Weeks ago Gen. Eisenhower's name was
entered by his campaign manager. Sem
ator Henry Cabot Lodge, who vigorously
took the stump for him. OF course, the
general stuck to his post In Western
Europe and kept unbroken silence on
all matters political. Unquestionably.
this puts him at great disadvantage.
His friends are trying to make UP for
the handicap by the vigor and energy
Of their appeal. particularly since the
two opposing candidates Senator Rob-
ert A. Taft and former Gov. Harold
Stassen- entered the field. Each Of
these has been making personal can.
vass of the voters.
AS to the result-on form-Gen.
Eisenhower should win In the Republican
primaries and President Truman in the
Democratic. This Judgment is based
on the fact that each has the support
of his party organization. Almost all
ways the party machine is dominant In
the primaries, the reason being that the
vote In the primaries Is always much
smaller than in the general election and,
hence, much more easily controlled by
the politicians. There are not. to be
sure, many delegates involved in these
New Hampshire primaries "a in alb
and under the State law the candidates
who win the preference vote are by no
means sure Of having all the New Hamp-
shire delegates in their respective ma
tional conventions. That is one reason
the politically practical Mr.. Truman
used the word "eyewash."
4 n
From one standpoint. the President
certainly is right, but there is q good
deal more to the result in this State than
the mere number of delegates bagged.
There is the psychological effect upon
the country as whole. That is why
both Mr.. Truman, who is fairly sure
of having most of the delegates on his
side, and Senator Taft, who Is fairly
sure not to have most of them on his
side, are struggling to make good
showing on Tuesday Not to do so would
be bad for them both. Mr. Truman.
for example, would suffer in prestige
If the deSpised Senator Kefauver, whom
he personally dislikes, should carry the
State by default on his issue Of corrup-
ton, the mere raising of which Is an
indictment Of the Truman administra-
ton.
On the other hand, Senator Taft has
nothing much to lose and o good deal
to gain by making the contest against
the absent Gen. Eisenhower. Proclaim
ing that the odds are against him and
that he cannot. at the most, expect
more than four of the IA delegates.
Senator Taft personally has put on Q
strenuous and intensive campaign, the
real purpose OF which Is to punch
hole III the idea that there is an over
wheiming Eisenhower sentiment among
the rank and file.
The situation lis further complicated
by the Stassen candidacy and by an
admitted Macarthur sentiment that will
be reflected in the vote for certain dele.
gates Mr. Stassen is striving only for a
popular vote and making no contest for
delegates. Gen. Macarthur refused to
permit the use Of his name. but one or
two delegates are known to favor him.
All Of which just adds to the confusion.
Few Of the political observers on the
scene seem to care about making definite
prophecies no wonder. The one
sure thing that can be foreseen is that
the crop of alibis will be nprecedentedly
large and ingenious. Whatever happens.
there will be no end Of excuses and
explanations. Even the weather. good
or bad, will be used. OF course. 1t is
highly improbable that the realities In
either party as to its presidential nom
nation will be greatly affected by the
result. The basic facts will not be
changed.