Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-05-18
Convention Machinery
Under Taft Control
But Eisenhower Forces Think
Hundicop Con Be Overcome
By Fronk R. Kent


. In the struggle for the presidential
nomination perhaps not enough weight
Is being given to the considerable adj
vantage control Of the convention ma
chinery confers upon the candidate who
has it. More than once that control has
been the deciding factor in q conven-
ton.
The key convention committee, Of
course. is the Committee on Credentials.
This is the committee which passes
upon the credentials Of all delegates.
hears all contests and makes recon-
mendations as to which contesting dele
gates should be seated. In nearly all
cases its recommendations are accepted
by the convention. Some time before
the convention meets each of the States
and Territories designates one man to
represent it on this committee. The
committee then meets and elects its
own chairman. At least, that is the
theory. In reality, the national chair
man and few top party leaders decide
whom they want as credentials chair
man and through regular organization
leaders in the States see that enough
friendly organization men are named
to the committee to insure the election
of their choice for credentials chairman.
Most Of this. Of course. is done before
the convention meets. When the dele
gates arrive in Chicago they will find
subcommittee of the national commit
tee already at work hearing arguments
and considering the facts about con-
testing delegations. Upon its report the
temporary roll of the convention Is
made up. When, with the converting Of
the convention, the Credentials Commit
tee is announced this report is taken
over by it and the contests heard and
taken to the floor of the convention. but
it is rare indeed, the recommendation
of the committee is not confirmed.
These contesting delegations appear in
both party conventions and are some.
times OF great Importance.
This year the Democratic Credentials
Committee chairman in all probability
will be Truman man and he will con-
troll the committee. The chairman of
the national committee is also Truman
man. Though Mr.. Truman is not .
candidate, this will enable the adminis-
tration to decide all delegation contests
and fill the key posts for temporary and
permanent chairman. On the Republic
can side, there is little doubt that this
machinery control will be in the hands
of Senator Taft's friends. The national
chairman, Mr.. Gabrielson, is regarded
as strong Taft adherent and it is gem
orally conceded the Credentials Commit
tee will be pro-Taft. This means that
in States where there is an Eisenhower
delegation contesting with Taft dele
CATION, the Taft delegation will DO
seated and the Eisenhower delegation
will be out in the cold.
How many votes this will cost Essen
hover Is impossible to tell. but 1t Is
bound to cost some. Particularly Is this
true in the South. In that section the
Taft leaders have been working for
months and the claim is made that they
have the Southern delegates pretty well
Sewed up. However, there will be con-
tests not only from the South but from
other sections.
With the Credentials Committee, the
temporary chairman and the permanent
chairman all selected by the organiza-
ton directed by National Chairman
Gabrielson, the Taft advantage is APP
parent. This is the basis Of some Of the
Taft confidence-and naturally so. To
offset it is the extraordinary popular
strength of the general in the country.
plus the intense desire Of both Republic
can leaders and rank and file to win.
Hardly any detached observer doubts
that while Senator Taft might win
against any Democrat. like" is sure to
win. After four successive defeats. the
time has arrived when the Republican
Party cannot afford to take any unnec-
essary chance. That, say the Eisen-
hover leaders, is enough. They concede
the convention organization advantage
but believe they can overcome 1t.