Evening star., 1952-02-19
The Political Mil
Intro-Porty Strife Could
Wreck 6. 0. P. Chances
Eisenhower, Tuft Followers
Keep Hurting Brickbots
By Gould Lincoln

sSShSWS'g soaA VbOWSIS
Keep Hurling Brickbots
By Gould Lincoln
Can the G. o. P. survive its present
preconvention campaign? This be-
comes pertinent question when one
large segment Of the party is shouting
Taft cannot win," and another Is vo-
ciferously declaring that Gen. Dwight
D. Eisenhower is at best pig in q
poke" and at worst just another Tru-
man Fair Dealer.
Since Senator Taft of Ohio and Gen.
Eisenhower are the leading contenders
Tor the Republican presidential nomi-
nation. recognized as having large per-
sonal followings in the party, it seems
the quintesSence of political insanity to
belittle one and besmirch the other.
One or the other is expected to be the
Republican standard bearer, and the
oe1eatist attitude, in one camp or the
other. when these candidates names
are mentioned is enough to make any
Democrat chortle.
Not since 1924. when the Democratic
Party split wide open in its effort to
pick q presidential candidate, has there
been so much bitterness engendered
within a major political party. At that
time William Gibbs McAdoo of Califor-
mia. who had been Woodrow Wilson's
Secretary of the Treasury and then
Senator, came to the Democratic Ma
tlonal Convention with a large follow
ing to meet the strenuous opposition Of
Gov. Alfred E. Smith of New York.
When the strife was over, the Demo-
cratic nomination was worthless, and
Republican President Calvin Coolidge
as good as elected. The Democrats at
that time had hoped to capitalize on
the scandals Of the Harding admins
tration-just as the Republicans today
are hoping to gain control of the Gov
ernment because Of the scandals Of the
Truman administration.
Strife Grows More Bitter.
The intraparty strife over Eisen-
hover and Taft has grown more and
more bitter. Senator Taft, himself, has
thrown no brickbats at the general.
Gen. Eisenhower has said nothing. But
the followers Of each are ungoverned in
their verbal assaults. Maybe this is
a clever way Of preparing for an all
out fight, after the nominations have
been made, against an intrenched en-
emy who has billions Of dollars of pub
lie funds to spend in ways which influ-
ence votes. Or maybe it's just q way
Of committing political suicide.
The two candidates, Senator Taft and
Gen. Eisenhower, are differently situ-
ated. The one is in the United States,
which he is covering like the dew,
speaking first on the Atlantic Coast and
then on the Pacific Coast, and often in
between. The other is at his post in
Europe, in uniform and his lips sealed
so far as political campaigning is con-
cerned. One man is out beating the
bushes for the nomination, and the
other is waiting to be called. Some
people seemed to be insulted at the
thought that presidential nomination
might actually seek the man.
Senator Taft has just returned from
a trip that took him into the Pacific
Coast and other Western States. He was
greeted by very large and enthusiastic
crowds when he spoke. He and his cam
paign managers have been greatly en-
couraged.
Campaign to Be Enlivened.
Within few weeks, however, the pre-
convention campaign'will be still further
enlivened. The hour of the presidential
preferential primary will be at hand
and on the campaigns waged in the
primary States and on the results of
the primary voting much will depend.
No "eyewash" for the Republicans no
matter what 1t may be for the Demo-
Gratis. Senator Taft is planning to spend
two weeks of March in Wisconsin, where
the primary takes place April l. He will
and he hopes to demonstrate his popu-
larity and vote-getting ability in that
contest. Harold E. StaSsen has q full
slate Of delegate candidates entered
there, too, and Gov. Warren Of Cali
fornia has been talking Of entering the
primary. The Eisenhower people have
held off.
First of all the primaries takes place
March II in New Hampshire. There
Taft's slate of delegates will be opposed
to a slate for Eisenhower-and unless
they are withdrawn. by a slate for Gen.
Douglas Macarthur. There, too, the
Republican leaders, including Gov.
Adams, are mostly in the Eisenhower
camp. The Eisenhower managers are
counting much on q first blow-a victory
in New Hampshire. A week later, the
Minnesota primaries take place, and
there a slate of delegates for Gen.
Eisenhower has been entered by "Ike"
enthusiasts to run against a Stassen
slate. Amy delegates Gen. Eisenhower
picks up there will be regarded as q gain
for his forces.