Evening star., 1952-05-27
The Political Mill
Dever Seen as CuIIino
On Stevenson to Run
Believes illinois Governor
Would Garry Mony Stotes
By Gould Lincoln

By Gould Lincoln
No American, according to Gov. Dever
OF Massachusetts. has the right to re-
fuse to run for President or Vice Presi-
dent. If he is called upon to accept the
nomination Of his party for either office.
The Governors statement is of especial
interest since he is to be keynote speaker
and temporary chairman of the Demo-
cratic National Convention. Made dur
ing his participation in the NBC Meet
the Press" television program, it sounded
like an admonition to a very prominent
Democrat. who has said he could not
accept" such q nomination this sum-
mer. That Is, Gov. Adlai Stevenson Of
Illinois. 1t was not intended to apply
to President Truman, obviously, since
Gov. Dever emphatically said he believed
the President would not run for re-
nomination or reelection.
The reluctance of Gov. Stevenson to
be drawn into the Democratic presi-
dental picture has been a great dis
appointment to many leading Demo-
Gratis, who see in him strong candidate
to run against any Republican. It is
entirely clear. however, that many Of
UAAO OVAAAONAQ Quo AAdtC 1lOb &1FCu uH tI1G
idea Of drafting Gov Stevenson when the
time comes around. The Illinois Gov
ernor does not desire to run for Presi-
dent. He has made that quite clear At
the same time he has not gone so far as
to say he would not accept a presidential
nomination if it came to him.
Sure Of Democratic Victory.
1t Is no secret that Gov. Dever looks
on Gov. Stevenson as desirable nominee
for the Democrats-and that he be-
lieves Gov. Stevenson would carry Massa-
achusettS and many other States Gov.
Dever insisted, however, that he is "un-
asSailably impartial the prospective
keynoter and temporary presiding officer
OF the Democratic National Convention.
He expressed confidence that any one
of number Of candidates for the Demo-
cratic nomination would defeat a Re-
publican candidate next November, in
cluding among them w. Averell Harri-
man Of New York and Vice President
Barkley. He is not. he said. engaged in
any effort to place road block in the
pathway of Senator Kefauver Of Ten
nessee, who is running strongly for the
presidential nomination.
Certainly, If the Democratic presi-
dental nomination in the end should
go to Gov. Stevenson, it would be a
genuine case of the nomination seeking
the man. Gov. Dever was specific about
Gov. Stevenson when he said, in answer
to a question. that he believed Gov Stew
enson has no right to refuse the nomina-
ton if it came his way. That is pretty
strong talk. But it is feeling that has
;,. kl.>
Democratic leaders.
Nomination Seeks the Man.
Another potential presidential nomi.
nee, who in the past has SHE'D away
from the honor, but who this year
admitted he would be available" If
the people wanted him, is Gen. Dwight
D. Eisenhower. The general is coming
home June l, to take off his uniform and
put himself in position to accept the
Republican presidential nomination. To
very great degree, here is another case
of the nomination seeking the man. A
great group in the Republican Party look
on Gov. Eisenhower as the man to lead
not only his party, but the country to
better things. It Is rare that two such
able men as Eisenhower and Stevenson
should be so hard to get for president
ial nomination.
The outstanding campaigners for the
presidential nominations of their parties
two men who are seeking and have
been seeking these top honors-are Sem
ator Kefauver of Tennessee on the
Democratic side, and Senator Taft Of
Ohio on the Republican side. Never
have nominations been more assiduously
sought. They have perfect right to
seek them, believing they can be Of
service. Senator Taft was urged strongly
to make bid for the presidential nomi-
nation by many Republicans. Senator
Kefauver has been asked to run, too, by
admirers of his work as chairman of the
crime committee. 1t looks as though. in
both major parties conventions this
year, the old question whether the Office
should seek the man or the man the
Office Is to be answered.
Few presidential nominations have
gone to men who did not actively seek
them-very few. In the recent past
Willkie, Dewey and Roosevelt fought
hard to win nomination. Few men, in
deed, have declined to accept presi-
Dental nomination of a major political
party.