Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-05
The Political Mill
g. o. P. Chaos Is Seen
If Eisenhower Retires
Porty Leaders Questioned
Believe He Will Run Again
The Political Mill
BY GOULD LINCOLN

~~~-~-
mate only Dwight Eisenhower as their
candidate for President in 1856.
statement by the President that he
would decline TO run next year would
create chaotic situation for the @. O. p.
This is the particular lesson found in
the poll on Republican presidential
preferences taken by The Evening Star
and published last Sunday. The crys-
talization of Republican thinking on an
Eisenhower candidacy is amazingly
complete. It includes not only desire
that the President will accept renomin-
alton but g faith that he will do so
when the time comes.
Two replies to The Stars question:
naire were received too late for inelu-
sion in the published results of the poll.
bringing the total number Of replies up
to 101 out of 159 sent to Republican
State chairmen and members of the
Republican National Committee. Nu-
merically and percentagewise, the re-
Spouse to the QUESTIONABLE was very
large. The responses came from all 48
States, the District of Columbia, Alaska.
Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
Particularly significant was the fact
that only 80 of the l0l replying to the
poll suggested potential presidential
nominees If Mr.. Eisenhower declines to
run. The poll showed seven mentioning
Vice President Nixon and Senator
Knowland, both of California, as presi-
Dental candidates in place of Mr.. Eli
senhower-if the President is not to run.
The two replies arriving late boosted
IN ointf ", fhie nofocfntyy
They also, however, added one more
reply against the denomination of Mr..
Nixon for Vice President-making the
total of those actually opposed to Mr..
Nixon four. Representative Charles A.
Halleck OF Indiana received another
vote for the vice presidential NOM
ination.
Support in All Areas
This overwhelming Republican sup
port for Mr.. Eisenhowers denomination
was found in every section of the coun-
try. It was shown to exist in the Mid
west. where splinter is trying to make
itself heard in opposition to Mr.. Eisen-
hover and his policies. 1t was shown.
too, in the South, despite reports that
the Southerners have cooled toward Mr..
Eisenhower because of the Supreme
Court decision against segregated pub
lie schools. AS a matter of fact, the Re-
publican Party has grown in support
and strength in Southern States as a
result of Mr. Eisenhower's victory at
the polls in 1852 and his continuing
popularity. One concrete gain has been
the election of Republican representa-
tives-one each-in Florida and Texas
in 1854, where no Republicans -four
ished before. Another lies in the fact
the South will have total of 80 ad-
ditional delegates-over the score in
1952-in the Republican National Con-
vention next year. This is due to the
bonus delegates allowed in States which
were carried by Mr. Eisenhower in 1852,
and for congressional victories. All Of
which is inclining more and more voters
of the South to line themselves up with
the G. o. P. This is happening, not
withstanding the many prophecies
made Immediately following the cleo
ton of 1852 to the effect that the
switch to a Republican presidential
candidate had been merely a flash in
the pan-and that all those who had
cast votes for MIR. Eisenhower in that
election would go right back to the
Democratic fold. The South is, Of
course, still Overwhelmingly Democratic.
But its "solidity'' is bit cracked.
Warren in Running
Should the President take himself out
OF the 1866 picture, the race for the Re.
publican presidential nomination would
be wide open The top runners in The
Star poll-for the nomination if Mr..
Eisenhower declines to run--in addition
to Nixon and Knowland were Chief
Justice Earl Warren, also of California,
and Senator Everett NJ Dirksen of
Illinois. With only half dozen pref
erence votes cast for any one of them,
however, it is clear there might be a
terrific scramble for national conven-
ton delegates who, In the end, will
make the nomination. Mr.. Eisenhower
might, of course, throw his influence
back of one of the candidates, and he
might have some effect, although once
it is known he was going out Of the
White House that influence would not
be so great.
The Republican picture would be
vague. indeed. with Mr.. Eisenhower
blacked out. Taft is dead. Dewey and
Stassen, who were frequent contestants,
have dropped out of the public mind.
Chief Justice Warren-a running mate
with Dewey in 1948-will not resign
from the court to run for political
Office, it is firmly predicted, although he
would be the most likely nominee, if he
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