Evening star., 1952-05-24
The Political Mill
6. O. P. Seeks Neutral
Temporary Chairman
Leaders Null Over Selection
Of Convention Keynoter
The Political Mill

Leaders Null Over Selection
Of Convention Keynoter
By Gould Lincoln
With battle lines drawn tighter than
in any two-man contest for the Re-
publican presidential nomination since
1912, the Taft and Eisenhower forces
are not overlooking the Importance of
the selection Of temporary chairman
and keynote speaker for the COP. ma
tional convention. Neither side wishes
to see an out-and-out partisan of the
opposition given that Office. The de-
clSlonS the temporary chairman may be
called on to make are too important.
To find neutral" capable of making a
keynote speech who is also good parlia-
mentarian and firm presiding officer is
tough and almost impossible job under
existing conditions.
Usually both the major political par
ties turn to the lists of State Governors
and to members of Congress to fill the
chairmanships. both temporary and per-
manent, of their national conventions.
The Democrats, through their convention
committee on arrangements, have como
up with Gov. Paul Dever of Massachu-
sets for temporary chairman, a new
face in the national picture, and Speaker
Rayburn OF Texas for permanent chair
man. The Republicans. although their
convention is held two weeks earlier in
July than the Democratic convention.
are still mulling over their possible selec-
tlons. They first planned to make their
recommendations at a meeting May Is.
and have put it off until their COM
mlttee on arrangements meets June 8
and 10.
Governors Favor Taft.
glance at the names of the Is
Republican Governors shows that the
great majority of them have declared
for Eisenhower or for Taft. One of
them, Earl Warren, of California. is A
candidate for the presidential nomina-
ton himself and so out of the running
Tor temporary chairman, an office he
filled in 1914. Fifteen of the Governors
are known to be supporters Of Gen.
Eisenhower; less number are for Sena-
tor Taft; few have not openly COM
mltted themselves, among them Gov.
Fine OF Pennsylvania. Both factions are
wooing Gov. Fine. in the hope of win
ming over the big Pennsylvania deleea-
ton. Cows. Dewey of New York, Driscoll
OF New Jersey, Kohler of Wisconsin, Lodge
OF Connecticut. any one of whom could
deliver a good keynote speech, all are
committed strongly to Gen. Eisenhower.
II the Republicans turn to Congress-
they presumably will 60 to the Senate
Tor their temporary chairman and key
noter. There seems to be agreement
that Representative Joe Martin of Massa-
chusetts, former Speaker and at present
minority leader of the House, shall serve
as permanent chairman, an office he has
neld three times in succession, an all
time record for Republican national
conventions. In the upper house, a
preponderance of the Senators are strong
Tor their colleague, Senator Taft.
Mrs. Smith Suggested.
Senator Margaret Chase Smith Of
Maine is the suggestion of some of tho
Senators for temporary chairman. Mrs.
Smith has insisted right along she is
not taking part in the EiSenhower-Taft
struggle. To have a woman deliver the
Republican keynote speech would be an
innovation. Furthermore, Mrs. Smith is
quite capable of delivering an excellent
keynote speech.
Other Senators who have been II, the
talk" for this job include Senator Mil
nKln OF Colorado, chairman of the Re.
publican conference of the Senate. Mr..
Mllllkln is Taft man. He was a dele.
gate candidate in Colorado, as a Taft
man, but lost to an Eisenhower candi-
date. In addition to being one of tho
best speakers in the Senate. Senator
Milllk1n has the reputation of being
eminently fair, and he has been unani-
mouSly elected chairman Of the Republi.
can Senate conference several times.
Two other Senators whose names crop
up In talks about temporary chairman
are Senator Bridges of New Hampshire
and Senator Knowland of California.
The former is the Republican floor leader
OF the Senate. He kept hands of in the
Eisenhower primary fight in New
Hampshire last March, and he still has
made no commitment in the presidential
race. Senator Knowland, Of course. il
for Gov. Warren and could be regarded
as a neutral as between Taft and Eisen-
hover
The Taft forces predominate in the
committee on arrangements, where the
selection Of keynoter Is to be made.
They could, if they wished, insist upon
recommending strong Taft partisan for
the job. The question is-will they?