Evening star., 1952-01-26
On the Presidential Track

The starting gate for the presidential "hoss
race" is beginning to fill and the early arrivals
present almost as much variety in political col
grafton as the jockeys silks at the ordinary
track.
ANY resemblance. to the qualities of being
ordinary probably ends at that point The privi-
lege which the American people possess of Sc
lecting their Chief of State each four years is
not ordinary in any mean sense of the word.
This years contest gives promise of not being
ordinary in any sense Of the word.
In fact, probably more than the usual num-
ber of riddles exists on each side of the political
barrier The Democrats are still puzzled as to
exactly what President Truman intends to do.
If he intends to do nothing, they are still appre-
hensive about who he intends doing it for or
against. His latest word, at a press conference,
was that he is not tired, that he may announce
his intentions before the Missouri primary
deadline of April 20, but that anyway he doesn't
need to enter primaries in order to gain the
nomination-if he wants it.
The Republicans are still puzzled as to
exactly what General Eisenhower intends to do.
They think he said recently that he is Re
publican, but there are still some people at the
betting windows who contend he could be
Democrat In any case, it is still not clear how
he feels about certain issues sure to figure in
look more like Democrat than Republican,
or vice versa.
Actually, neither Mr.. Truman nor General
Eisenhower have yet arrived at the starting gate.
Some others have and they are already looking
over their shoulders at the paddock entrance.
From the Republican stables, Senator Taft,
fortnight as usual, has been out there Tor some
time and is already committed to some warm-up
races in key primaries Former Governor Stassen
also lis on the track and so is a strong West
Coast entrant Governor Warren. Governor
Dewey, runnerup in two previous main events,
still has his gear in the tack room even though
he has indicated his early money is on General
Eisenhower General Macarthur remains in the
dark-horse category and there are others who
may still emerge.
Entries from the other side are still display
ing an early shyness. Two of them, after due
consultation at the White House, are showing
their colors, although whether they are really
running horses or merely stalking horses Is not
yet fully clear.
Most determined in appearance thus Tar Is
TennesSee's Senator Kefauver, who not only has
announced he is running but tossed little mud
at the present champion by declaring that the
Truman administration has not yet done enough
i to clean up certain existing conditions in Gov
ernment The Tennessean is going to warm up,
too, in some Of the early primaries, already hav-
ing consented to entry In California, Illinois and
Ohio.
Senator Humphrey is wearing the favored
son" silks in Minnesota. Connecticut's Senator
Mcmahon almost found himself running a pre-
liminary heat in faraway Illinois, but he left
the track at the last, minute with the explana-
ton that his own preference is Harry S. Truman.
His action may mean that he has reason to be-
heve Mr. Truman will run. Meanwhile Vice Pres
ident Barkley and Speaker Rayburn, seasoned
veterans, are still within range of the starters
bugle. So are Chief Justice, vinson and few
promising Governors Michael Disable, modest
as always has decided to work OF his COM
petitive urge by running for the Senate in Ohio.
The field for the main event viii be big BY
July--but only one viii finish on top ~ Mo-