Evening star., 1954-12-30
The Political Mil
Retirement t Of Dewey
Leaves Great Cop
Quits Governors Office
After II Years Tomorrow
The Political Mil
BY Gould Lincoln


New York's top Republican, Gov.
Thomas E. Dewey, steps out Of the
political picture tomorrow at midnight.
He ends his third term as Governor
OF the Empire State-a l2-year stint
of duty in an office requiring unceasing
attention. With brief intervals Goy..
Dewey has been In the service OF ms
State for q score Of years-as racket
buster and district attorney before en-
tering the Governors mansion in AL.
bany
When he became the States chief
executive. the Republicans had not
held that Office for 20 years. His three
terms of administration have created
q standard. Now he is retiring to the
private practice Of law--where, as he
has told friends, he will not have to
face a new crisis every day. 1t Is his
purpose to give his entire attention to
his profession. In other words. he has
no intention of trying to run the Re-
publican Party Of the State from his
law of1ice. AS he has explained. this
does not mean he will not always be
available for advice and aid If called
upon-or that he will lose interest In
the party which has honored him.
Some Likely Successors.
Mr.. Dewey's withdrawal. however.
leaves great gap. 1t will be filled.
the Republicans in New York con-
fidently predict, Although Senator
Ives was defeated for Governor by
w. Averell Hartman. 1t was narrow
thing, little more than 10000 votes out
of more than S million. Senator Ives
has four more years to serve Of his
present Senate term. In addition there
is group of strong Republican lead
ers in the State, including L. Judson
Morhouse. State chairman; the veteran
Speaker of the New York Assembly,
Oswald D. Heck: state Senator Walter
j. Mahoney, Senate majority leader.
and Jacob j. JavitS, newly elected at.
torney general.
Eventually, 1t is expected new top
leader will emerge. In the neantime,
the New York Republican leaders are
pooling their efforts. They are also
determining their program for the
meeting of the State Legislature, which
is their first step in the task Of deal
ing with the new Democratic Governor.
Admittedly, the defeat of the Republi-
can candidate for Governor was not
only surprise to the party. but also
grave disappointment. 1t has not
left the Republican leaders down.
hearted. BY the time 1858 rolls around
the next gubernatorial election year
they hope to have winning candi-
date. The Republicans OF New York
held their own, indeed. in the recent
ngreSsional elections from which they
emerged with 26 members of the New
York delegation in the national House
OF Representatives to II for the Demo-
Gratis. This was a loss of only one
seat to the Democrats from the 81
seats which the Republicans had in
the SD Congress.
Retirement Significant.
Gov. Dewey's retirement from the
political scene is matter of national
significance for the Republican Party
as well as State significance. Twice
he was the GO. P.'s nominee for
President. And for years he has gone
to the Republican National Conven-
tions in complete control of the States
big delegation, the biggest Of all. In
1851. Gov. Dewey came out for the
nomination of Gen. Eisenhower for
President. He did much to bring that
nomination about-indeed. he held
New York 90-odd delegates firmly in
line for Gen. Eisenhower--with only
one delegate straying away.
When Gov. Dewey was first elected
Governor in 1942, he had two principal
objectives. The first was honest and
efhcient administration Of the State
government. The second, to make
New York a Republican State again.
He succeeded in both. For many years
the Democrats had controlled the
State. and won victories in every State
wide election, for Governor and Sem
ator. and for President, although the
Republicans were able to hold on to
majorities in the State Legislature.
The retiring New York Governor Is
still young mamie Is only 50. Ad-,
mitting he Is now seeking q rest from
politics and public ONCE and Is intent
upon building UP patrimony for his
family. 1t seems unlikely Mr.. Dewey
will not at some time in the future be
called upon to serve State and coun-
try again.