The Sidney herald., 1955-10-06
BY Ernest Immel

Helena = Within two DAYS af-
ter announcement of President
Eisenhower's illness I took a poll
of 10 Democrats and 10 Repub-
1icans to get their early reactions
to the changed political situation
All those interviewed live in Hell
ena. but I believe they r repre-
sentative Of the thinking of the
various elements in the major
parties.
Perhaps by the time this an
pears in print there will be q
clearer indication whether or not
Mr.. Eisenhower will be avail
able as a candidate in 1856. But
at this writing, and on the basis
of the poll I have taken, the feel
ing is virtually unanimous that
he will not seek reelection.
Assumption that because of his
health, Mr.. Eisenhower will de-
cline to be the Republican stand
ard bearer next year intensifies
rivalries in both parties for presi-
Dental nominations. What I
wanted to get in this poll was a
cross section of opinion before
pressures by contestants could
come into play.
Seven of the Democrats named
Adlai E. Stevenson as their first
choice. One said the former Illi-
nois governor was not his first
choice but is the most likely TO
win the nomination. One favored
Gov. w. Averill Hartman of
New York. The remaining Dem
Ocrat in the poll expressed no
present choice but said that if
Stevenson is nominated he will re-
luctantly support him unless the
candidate makes a more aggressive
campaign than he did in 1852.
One Of the questions I asked
was: From the viewpoint of vic
tory for your party, whom would
you prefer as the nominee of the
opposing party?"
All the Democrats who n
swered the question in that form
said they preferred Vice Presi-
dent Richard N. Nixon as the
COP nominee, but one of these
asserted that if a Republican
should be elected he would pre-
fer Chief Justice Earl Warren.
Another Democrat would make
no easiest man to beat selec-
ton but indicated that if a Re-
publican should succeed Presi-
dent Eisenhower he would favor
Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr., former
senator from Massachusetts and
now United States representative
to the United Nations and rep
resentative to the Security coun-
Gil.
Five of the eight Republicans
who answered this question
thought Adlai Stevenson would
be the easiest man to defeat. One
saw no difference in relative
strength among the Democrats
who seem to be out in front at
this time. One named Governor
but volunteered that it
would be difficult to vote against
Sen. Harry R. Byrd of Virginia if
ne got the Democratic nomination.
As to first choice for the presi-
Dental nomination there was
nothing approaching unanimity
among the Republicans interview
ed. Two named Nixon, but nearly
all the others said, although they
liked the young vice president
from California, they feared he
would not be a strong candidate
for the presidency. Two preferred
Sen. William F. Knowland of Cali
fornia and one picked Sen. Everett
NJ. Dirksen Of Illinois. One was for
the former California governor,
Justice Warren, and another
although he named no choice, said
Warren is likely to be the nomi-
nee.
KnOwland, Dirksen and War
rem were mentioned by Republi-
cans as second choices. Also list
ed in this category was Gov.
Christian A. Herter Of Massa-
who, incidentally, was
pointed to by a Democrat as a
Republican who might have a
political future. Another
Republican liked Gov. William
c.. Stratton of Illinois.
One Republican said that the
record of the Eisenhower adj
ministration and the desire of the