Evening star., 1952-02-23
The Political Min w \
loft Looks Beyond Fight
To Win the Presidency
Knows He Would Have to Deul
With Opposition Senote
Ry Gould Lincoln

The promise OF Senator Taft Of Ohio
to appoint one or more Southern Demo.
Gratis as members Of his cabinet II he il
elected President next November looks
beyond his present fight to win the Re-
publican presidential nomination-in
which he has made SPECIAL effort to en-.
list the aid Of Southern Republicans.
The Ohio Senator understands that
even If he is elected President .-or even
Il some other Republican wins that
ofiice--the Democrats have chance to
retain control Of the Senate.
There are few Democratic Senate seats
IN real Jeopardy In the coming election,
Should, therefore, the Senate be organ.
lied by the Democrats In the OSd Con.
gress. which opens In 1858, Republican
President would have TO deal AZ hest he
could with that body. Most Of the Ina.
portafit chairmanships Of Senate com.
mittees ere held today by Southern
Democrats. Presumably they would be
continued In their present posts. One
or two Southern Democrats In a Taft
cabinet might provide excellent iiaiSon
offcers for the President.
Further. Senator Taft, a. Republican
leader In the Senate. has had valuable
aid from Southern Democrats IN corn.
batting the New Deal.Fair Deal pro.
grams OF the Roosevelt and Truman adj.
ininistrations, With the proper an.
preach, ne might. o., President. have
valuable aid from the same Houtherners
ioF his own program He might need Il,
TOO, particularly II some OF the liberal
Republicans In the Upper House should
20 on Q rampage.
,. Family Precedent.
The Senator's father, prealdent vii.
liam Howard Taft, had q Southern
Democrat In his cabinet "a Secretary OF
War, Jacob M, Dickinson OF TenneNsee--.
who had been born In Mississippi, Preyis
Ously Mr.. Dickinson had been an A.
SlstAnt attorney eeheral, under appoint.
ineft BY President Cleveland 90 Senator
I'aft would DO following family precedent
II no went South for q member or tWe
OF his cabinet,
President Truman, In his present cab.
lHetl has Ignored the South, f'hA NINs
members hall from Connecticut, Mis-
souri,, New York, Rhede island, GeioFa.
DO, ohle and Massachusetts, His 6eere.
tapy OF Defense, Robert a, LeVstt, was
appeln lnted from New YeFk altheuGh he
was born In Texas, Mr., Truman, how.
South"
Senator Taft has commented, too.
thRt any Republican elected President
N leha should put q Southern Demo-
efat % two IN his cabinet, In these
troubled times, At home and abroad,
sHeR o course would make for unity Of
eaoFt, both In Congress and out.
the late President Franklin D, Roose-
velt, Democrat, In June, 1910, appointed
Two Republicans to his cabinet, the late
Secretary OF War Henry L, stimson and
the late Secretary OF the Navy Frank
Knox, 1t was wise move, at q time
When the utmost unity was required to
build up the armed forces Of the Ma
ton
Both Served With Distinction. e~e
Some Republicans bitterly attacked
the appointments and charged that
Stimson and Knox had sold out the
COP. But both men served with dis
tlnction and benefit to the country. In
all probability. Mr.. Taft or another Re-
publican in the White House could and
Democrats Of ability from the South
who could and would render valuable
service in the cabinet, too.
Mr.. Taft's announced determination
to pick Southern Democrat for his
cabinet Is interpreted in some quarters
as move to enlist the aid Of Southern
Democrats in the November election
should he become the Republican candi-
date. Whether it is or not. it is certainly
q gesture Of friendliness toward his sem
atorial allies in many tough tight with
the present administration.
Perhaps Mr.. Taft might be able to
find Southern Republican for q cabi.
net post too. although he said nothing
about it. Taft support for the presiden-
tial nomination. It Is claimed, Is par
ticularly strong in that section Of the
country.