Evening star., 1952-01-19
The Political Mil
- =
Gov. Warren Is Better
Than Longshot Chonce
70 Delegates Are His Own,
And He's Quite a Vote -Getter
The Political Mil .
BY Gould Lincoln

By Gould Lincoln
SAN CO.-Gov. Earl Social
Progress" Warren of California is play
ing long shot for the Republican pres
idential omination-and he does not
consider the shot so long, either. OBJ
viously. if either Senator Taft Of Ohio
or Gen. Eisenhower gets so far out in
front in the convention race that
he can be nominated on the first, Sec
ond or third ballot at the Republican
National Convention next July, Gov.
Warren's chances will be nil. But come
q deadlock in the convention, the man
who made California Republican again in
1912 and has kept it SO for decade will
have his chance.
If the Republican National Committee
meeting just concluded here is indica-
tive. it shows that today no man, neither
Senator Taft nor Gen. Eisenhower, vet
has the presidential nomination sewed
up. Both men have great potential dele
gate strength-and both sides are claim
ing victory on the first or second ballot.
but neither the Taft support from the
professional politicians nor the Eisen-
hover support from the rank-and-fil
voters is SO overwhelming as to cinch
the nomination. It Is conceivable
II not probable that neither will domi-
nate the national convention, and that
Gov. Warren, Senator DirkSen Of Illinois.
or Gov. Driscon of New Jersey may
emerge with the nomination. Stranger
things have happened.
Fav0rite- Son Candidate.
Gov. Warren has had the California
delegation with hinl-or for him-twice
at party national conventions. in 1914
and 1948. He has, to some degree, been a
rather reluctant favorite-son candidate
in the past. But this year, he announced
his candidacy early and made no bones
about throwing his hat in the ring. He's
out to get the nomination for himself.
He wants 1t. He's no stalking horse for
any other candidate. He will have the
backing OF the big California delegation
10 In number. equal to Pennsylvania's
and second only to New York. He win
release the delegates If and when it be-
comes apparent that he cannot himself
be nominated.
Under such circumstances, Gov.
Warren does not count on swinging them
to a candidate of his choice. nor does
ne propose to dictate to them. It seems
pretty clear, however, that Gov. War.
rem would incline more to the Eisen-
hover camp than to that of Taft-al-
though he is making no such comment
today. His address to the national COM
mlttee here, however. shows pretty clear
" he is opposed to many Of the more
conservative Republican leaders SUD-
porting Senator Taft. He said that while
the Republican Party has never had a
radical wing. it has had in it "ex-
tremlsts OF the right" who wish to 60
back to what they call "the good old
days" II believe" he said, Chat these
extremists of the right are not as num-
erous as they are vocal and influential.
It IS my very deep conviction, however.
that unless there is fortnight repudia-
ton OF this thinking by our party We will
suffer again at the hands of the voters"
For Social Progress"
There seems, from this, to be no
hope OF Warren help for Senator Taft.
On the contrary, the California Governor
demanded q forwards looking party.
streamlined for the problems Of today.
He Is for social progress"-not social
ism-and he is convinced that any party
which turns its back on social progress
VIII be repudiated by the people. He
showed, by quoting from the Republi-
can platforms of 1914 and l948 that the
g. o. P. is pledged to social progress all
along the line, and he predicted that
the platform Of 1852 would be equally
liberal. When people call him a me
tooer," it rolls of his back, just the way
water rolls off duck.
Gov. Warren's record as a vote getter
in California is amazing, particularly
when it is remembered that in the mat
ter Of party registration the Democratic
voters outnumber the Republicans by
more than million. He has been three
times elected Governor record for the
State-and each time by increasing ma
jorities. People like him. They believe
him. Two mighty big assets for any can
didate, whether for Governor or Presi-
dent. He has made a tremendously
favorable impression at this meeting
OF the partys national convention.