Evening star., 1952-06-19

VI sSN0S ~SsSSj0AS sSuA
6. o. P. Committee Hearings
May Be Put on TeIevision
By Gould Lincoln
The people of the United States, in
and outside Of Texas. are going to have
an opportunity to learn fully about the
contests for Texas delegates to the Re-
publican National Convention between
the Eisenhower and Taft forces. This
is in accordance with the ruling Of
Mrs. Charles p. Howard of Massachu-
sets, secretary of the Republican Ma
tional Committee. Mrs. Howard de-
cided the contests should be referred
to the Republican National Committee.
which will hold hearings on delegate
contests beginning July l, in Chicago.
Had she ruled that only the contests
over Texas six delegates at large and
six alternates at large should go to
the national committee, and 80 dis
trict delegates and q similar number OF
alternates should be referred back to
the Texas Republican State Committee.
the picture spread before the voters
would not have been nearly complete.
The Eisenhower people have shouted
to high heaven that the Taft-domi-
mated Republican State Committee in
Texas stole the Lone Star States big
delegation to the national convention
for Senator Taft so that the Ohio Sem
ator could be sure of 38 more votes when
the convention gets down to electing q
presidential candidate. Senator Taft
and his campaign managers have de-
MED any stealing" They charge that
the Eisenhower forces ran in a lot Of
Texas Democrats to help them control
precinct and county conventions.
Charges Damaging to Taft.
The Eisenhower charges, backed up
by reports from Texas have not helped
the Taft candidacy. On the contrary.
they have been particularly damaging.
Senator Taft at one point offered a
compromise settlement of the Texas
contestS-which was Immediately con-
strued by the Eisenhower people as a
kind of confession of guilt. Senator
Taft, however, has insisted right along
that the contests should be settled fairly
and in accordance with the rules Of
the party. Just before Mrs. Howard'S
ruling, he urged that the Texas con-
tests all be referred to the Republican
National Committee.
Taft forces dominate the Republican
National Committee-or have domi-
mated it. The committee will UNDER
stand, however, that the settlement
of the Texas contests-and Of other
delegate contests which have now been
referred to its no perfunctory mat
ter; that the country has been aroused
over the Eisenhower charges. 1t will
understand. too. that the limelight-
and probably television-win shine on its
hearings of these contests. Facts. not
partisan prejudice. will have to decide
the issue. If there has been an effort
to "steal" delegates, it will be impossible
to conceal it. And it will be impossible
to conceal the committees reactions.
Demands for television coverage-with
q possible audience Of 50 million people
of the committee hearings-and Of
, subsequent hearings before the con-
vention credentials committee. make this
doubly true.
Crux Of Texas Contest.
The crux of the Texas contest-on
the part of the Eisenhower forests
this. A total of 502 Eisenhower
Texans who were elected as delegates to
the Texas Republican State convention
never got inside the convention hall
in Mineral Wells. They were barred from
the convention-first by the State Re-
publican Executive Committee and then
by the conventions credentials COM
mittee. Both committees were con-
trolled by Taft supporters. These
Eisenhower delegates to the State con-
vention were picked first through pre-
cinct and then through county con-
ventions. What happened, according to
the Eisenhower people. was that. when
it had been demonstrated in precinct
and county conventions, Eisenhower
voters outnumbered largely the Taft
voters, the Taft people moved out and
held rump conventions. The delegates
to the convention elected by the Taft
rump conventions were seated and the
Eisenhower people were not.
About 200 Eisenhower boosters were
allowed to enter the State convention
but when they caught on to what was
going on, they walked out. and joined
with the 502 to hold State convention
of their own. Hence, the two contesting
The Ike hackers are sore at Senator
Taft because, they say. he knew what
was happening in Texas and did moth
ing to stop it. They point out that David
S. ingalls,, Taft campaign manager. and
Representative Reece of Tennessee,
Southern manager for Taft. were both
in Texas. saw what went on and ap-
proved it.
These Texas contests may have an
important bearing on the outcome Of
the Taft-Eisenhower race. At present
the Taft people have the Texas delegates
unless they are turned aside. They
could give Taft majority, If the race
turned out to be close in the national
convention. Also, If the hearings reveal
trough stuff" in the interests Of Taft,
it might damage his chances Of nomi-
nation beyond repair.
Ouesfions and Answers