Evening star., 1952-01-09

MASSACHUSETTS q Leading EiSen-
hover supporter. He told report
erS the generals statement earlier
this week could be interpreted as
leaving the door open for a return
to civilian life.
Gen. Eisenhower stated he would
not ask to be relieved from his
European defense assignment.
Senator Lodge said today he
agreed that Gen. Eisenhower
cannot make any statement on
the issues of the re-convention
campaign while he is still in uni
FORM"
Taft Planning Tour.
Republican rivals Of Gen. Eisen-
hover. and some Democratic
leaders, however, showed no signs
OF marking time while the Eisen-
hover boom develops. Senator
Taft, Republican, of Ohio an
nounced far flung speaking tour
beginning January 81 in Madison,
Wis.
Between then and April he will
make West Coast swing and visit
Texas. Arizona and New Mexico,
returning late in March to cam
paign in the Wisconsin presiden-
tial primary. After April, he said,
he will invade New York, Pennsyl-
vania. New Jersey and Connecti-
cut, where Eisenhower supporters
claim their greatest strength.
Senator Taft laid claim to rs
delegates to the Republican Ma
tional convention from four States
where Gen. Eisenhower is sup
posed to have very strong back
ing-New York, Pennsylvania,
Massachusetts, and Kansas. This
claim is to about one-third of the
delegates from those States.
Senator Taft said he would get
from 20 to 80 of New York's So
delegates. Gov. Dewey, however,
is strongly supporting Gen. Eisen-
hover and still has a strong grip
on the organization there. Sena-
tor Taft claimed, too, he would
have a majority of the big Penn
sylvania delegation, despite the
Eisenhower support of Senator
Duff. He said he would have one
third of the Massachusetts, dele
gates and some" of the Kansas
delegates.
Truman Backs Humphrey.
In the Democratic camp some
thing Of mystery enveloped re-
ports that President Truman will
back Senator Humphrey, Demo-
crat. of Minnesota, instead of hav-
ing his own name entered in the
Minnesota presidential primary.
Several Democratic leaders en-
phaSized this did not necessarily
mean the President had decided
not to seek reelection. More prob
ably he is showing his friendship
for Senator Humphrey as a "fa-
vorite son" who can be counted
on to control the State delegation
for Mr.. Truman, they explained.
A VirginianS for Eisenhower
move was to be officially launched
In Richmond today but State Re-
publican organization leaders
withheld comment or active par
ticipation. Thomas c. Boushall,
q Richomnd banker who identi-
fles himself as an independent
Democrat, announced the meeting
of Eisenhower hackers. In 1948
Virginia Democrats Endorsed Gen.
Eisenhower for President. Sena-
tor Byrd and other prominent|
Democrats did not comment on
the current move.
Rough Going Predicted.
Democrats continued to dis
count generally the possibility
that Gen. Eisenhower will win
out as Republican nominee. Sen
ator Sparkman. Democrat, of
Alabama, predicted rough political
going for the general but he re-
marked that I'm glad to. see the
Republicans are getting a chance
ut good man."
Senator Kefauver, Democrat, Of
Tennessee, continued to occupy a
part of the Democratic presidential
campaign spotlight He expects
to see President Truman on Sat-
urday and the talk will have
some bearing on my political de-
cisions," he told reporters after
a call on Price Director Michael
v. Disable. His visit with Mr.
Disable concerned some price
problems in Tennessee and did not
deal with politics, he explained.
Evins Wears COOnskin Cap.
Senator Kefauver's earlier state
ments that he is interested in the
presidency prompted Representa-
tive Evins, Democrat, of Tennes-
see, to show up in the House yes
terday wearing a coonskin cap.
Election of Senator Bridges.
Republican, of New Hampshire to
succeed the late Senator Wherry
of Nebraska as minority floor
leader in the House was hailed
as a gain for the Taft drive. But
Senator Lodge said he did not
regard it as either a victory for
Senator Taft or a setback for Gen.
Eisenhower. Senator Bridges, who
defeated Senator Saltonstall Of
Massachusetts,, Is to Is. received
support mainly from Senators
favoring a Taft nomination.
Stassen "No Shadow Candidate" )"
The Taft Eisenhower contest
has not discouraged former Gov.
Harold E. Stassen of Minnesota,
he said in Milwaukee yesterday.
He declared he still is running for
the G. o. P. nomination and will
not conduct shadow campaign"
for Gen. Eisenhower. He an
nounced he will enter the Illinois
Republican primary in April
Backers of Gen. Eisenhower also
expect to go into the Wisconsin
primary.
While Senator Lodge and 9TH
ers were preparing to have Gen
Eisenhower name entered. with