Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-13
Mr.. KnowIond's Dilemma

CALIFORNIA; Senator Knowland is In
the kind Of Ak which causes a politician
to grow old before his time. And every
new development seems to make things
tougher for him.
If Mr.. Eisenhower is not going to run
again, Senator Knowland wants to have
his try at the Republican nomination.
This is perfectly legitimate ambition
especially in view of the fact that the
Californian, hand-picked by the late
Senator Taft to take over as G. o. P.
Senate leader, is generally thought of as
the chief Of his party's right wing
Perhaps this characterization ought
to be qualified bit In Washington,
Senator Knowland is widely regarded as
the No. / champion of Chang Kai-Shek
and bitter-end opponent of any conces-
sion to the Chinese Communists This,
though 1t might be difficult to document
the point, leaves him at odds with the
administration position. There is tend
ency to forget, however, that his voting
record on domestic issues for a Repub-
lican right-winger, has been relatively
liberal, and that he is vote-getter Of
I1O uICdIl III 1919 l1c was IC-
elected in California by the largest vote
ever polled by candidate in that State.
Last week a trial balloon was sent
aloft News stories, obviously inspired
by the one who should know best, issued
q sort Of ultimatum to the President and
the Eisenhower Republicans in general
Unless the President announces by the
end Of January that he will run again,
the inspired report said, Senator Know
land will plunge into the race for the
Republican nomination There were
reasons for Historically the imminence
Of State primary contests which Senator
Knowland wants to enter to test, and
possibly to demonstrate, his strength.
There was also at least a suspicion that
the delay In an announcement of the
Presidents intentions is serving to cabin
and conf1ne Senator Knowland for the
benefit Of his principal rival and fellow
Californian-Vice President Richard M.
Nixon. All in all, it is easy to understand
why Mr.. Knowland should be getting
more and more restless with each passing
day.
Over the week end came a new de-
velopment-a reply, in sense, to the
inspired news stories. The timing was
accidental, but the effect, nonetheless,
was to deepen and intensity the Know
land dilemma. This development was
two-pronged. First, there was the an
nouncement that the President has been
somewhat fatigued" by his official &C
tivities, and has been advised to take 1t
easier. Second, there was the statement
by Major General Howard M. Snyder
the Presidents personal physician. that
he thought it would be the middle OF
February cor later" before Mr. Eisen-
hover would know enough about his
heart condition to decide whether to run
for reelection.
This, politically speaking, leaves Mr..
Knowland in a most unhappy predica-
ment. The announcement undoubtedly
strengthens his belief that the President
will not run again. At the same time,
he is formally notified by the Presidents
personal physician that it will be mid
February or later before Mr. Eisenhower
will know the real state of his health.
so what will Senator Knowland do? Will
he stand by his end-ofJanuary pro-
nouncement? Or will he climb down
from that exposed position and watch the
time run out for entering primaries which
he needs to enter and which he presum-
ably thinks he can win?