A Clip for "Buster"

In the 1940 GOPresidential scramble, big problem of Messrs. Arthur Vandenberg and Robert Taft has been not to let young Thomas Dewey get too far ahead. For many a week Candidates Taft & Vandenberg have relied comfortably on their advisers' assurance that "Buster" Dewey was a natural for the Vice-Presidency, was not a serious contender for the No. 1 job.

But by last week it was harder to take such a rosy view. Mr. Dewey has had, will get headlines galore. Wisconsin's primary comes April 2. Last week Mr. Taft quietly avoided entering the Wisconsin primary. "Deal!" shouted Deweyites. "A clip in the neck for Buster," smiled the wise boys. Senator Vandenberg is strong in Wisconsin (only primary he has entered). Assumption was that Senator Taft might split the Vandenberg vote. Solemnly Messrs. Taft & Vandenberg denied that they had consulted each other.

A crack at all the G. O. P. Hopefuls came from independent Republican Fiorello H. LaGuardia, New York City's bantam-cock mayor. Withdrawing his name from the Illinois primary ballot, on the excuse that he did not want to divide the liberal vote,* the Mayor said: '. . . I went and saw a movie called Abe Lincoln in Illinois and I looked over the present crop of Republican candidates--phooey!"

* Illinois voters who did not vote in last year's primaries may vote for either party's candidates, therefore LaGuardia might attract voters away from Franklin Roosevelt.

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