Evening star., 1952-03-02
81 Delegates Chosen
So Far Give Taft Big
Lead Over His Rivals
sy The Assoeioted Press

Senator Taft of Ohio, is sup
ported by majority Of the 50
delegates to the Republican presi-
Dental nominating convention
chosen so far in six states.
An Associated Press poll of the
delegates already named dis
closed that 20 back the Ohio SEN
|ator's bid for the G. o. P. nomina-
ton, 10 favor Gen. Eisenhower,
two support Gen. Macarthur and
II won't say how they stand.
Those already chosen make up
less than S per cent of the total
number Of delegates to the July
convention in Chicago.
Senator Taft is supported by
12 delegates from Florida, seven
from Oklahoma, five from Ten
nessee. three from Pennsylvania
and one each from North Caro-
lima and Virginia. Only the
Florida and Oklahoma states are
complete, with other delegates to
be named by the other States
later.
Eisenhower Supporters. :.
Eisenhower supporters include
seven from Oklahoma, one In
Florida and two In Pennsylvania.
Gen. Macarthur has two hackers
In Oklahoma.
OF the IL who refused 20 say
how they stand. Ave each are
from Florida and Pennsylvania
ana one 10 from Virginia.
There was activity In the Elsen.
hover camp yesterday. The gen.
eral, who has said he will accept
the g. o. p. nomination for the
Presidency, but will not campaign
for II before the July convention,
yesterday talked to two OF his
baekeFs In Europe,
After the meeting with Nal.
colin o, Forbes, Republican State
Senator Of New Jersey, and Kelvin
Me6aah, president Of Defiance
College In Ohio, the lid was
elamped on what they discussed,
The two wouldn't even admit
they talked polities-and the gem
eral himself was silent,
The meeting closely followed a
cryptic announcement by Senator
Lodge, Republican, of Massachu-
sets, Gen. EisenhoWer's national
chairman, that unexpected de-
velopments" may occur shortly.
Many hackers of the general
have been hoping he would come
home soon to help along the cam
paign, but there has been no real
sign that he would do so.
Senator Taft headed into a
three-day campaign tour of Wis
consiA yesterday after single
day Of plugging in Northern Illi-
nois. His schedule was heavy.
Stassen In California.
Harold E. Stassen of Minnesota
Gov. Earl Warren's home
State of California seeking the
backing Of the States anti-War-
rem forces In his drive for the
G. o. P. II
Other developments:
A Kerr-Kefauver contest on the
Democratic ticket developed in
Nebraska. Both Senator Ke-
fauver of Tennessee and Senator
Kerr of Oklahoma are entered in
the presidential preference pri-
mary April l. Senator Kerr has
nat announced. but has said he
may seek the nomination if Presi-
dent Truman does not run.
Mr.. Stassen and Mrs. Mary
Kenny, a Lincoln housewife
pledged to Gen. Macarthur, are
the only Republicans entered.
Mrs. Kenny is believed to be the
only "favorite daughter" entered
in the Nation. She entered at the
last minute when she ran into
snags trying to get Gen. Mac
Arthur's name on the ballot.
She did, however, get the name
OF retired 1t. Gen. Albert C.
Wedemeyer on the ballot. At first
he seemed willing, then announced
he would not accept the candi-
dacy. He has until March 7 to
formally Withdraw
New Mexico Republicans picked
four candidates for the States