Evening star., 1939-10-05
The Political Mill
Chandler Must Decide for Himself
Ethics Of Toking Senote Seat

in his present ofdce-until Decem-
ber. And johnson has only q month
to wait until he will be elected Gov
ernor, in all probability. If the Sem
ate had not been called into special
session, there would be no particular
reason for filling the Logan vacancy
until after the first of the year, when
the regular session of Congress be-
gins. Gov. Chandler could have
waited and made no appointment to
the Senate and johnson could have
given Chandler the senatorial ap-
pointment as soon as he took over
in December.
But now, with the administra-
tion's repeal of the arms embargo
at stake in the Senate, the leaders
want the Kentucky seat filed with
comparatively little delay. They
want that vote for repeal If they
can get it. 1t has been reported
that Chandler stands ready to sup
port repeal if he comes to the Sen
ate-and that being the case, as one
of the administration leaders put
it rather cynically, there was little
reason to believe that Chambers
appointment would be opposed by
the majority in the Senate.
1t looks, therefore, as though Gov.
Chandler will have to decide which
is the best course for him to pursue,
with regard to his own political
future. He could come to Washing
ton as Senator right away. On the
other hand, he could wait at least
until johnson had been elected Gov
ernor next month. or he could serve
out his term and be appointed in
December, after Johnson takes Office
as Governor. The only thing against
choosing one of these latter alterna-
tives is the danger of Johnson's
being defeated in the election
which does not appear to be great.
IT Chandler decides to wait until
after Johnson's election or until af-
ter Johnson's Inauguration, before
letting himself be named to the
Senate, he can appoint for the in
terim friend who will step aside
at the proper time and give way for
Chandler in the Senate, or he can
just leave the vacany as it is.
Administration Is Interested.
There is reason to believe that the
administration is keenly interested
In this Kentucky situation. 1t
wants to know, in addition to
Chambers position on the arms en-
barge, just how good an administra-
ton Senator he might make in the
future. Last year the President
stepped on Chambers toes. going
into Kentucky to support Senator
Barkley for denomination against
Chandler.
The 4l-year-old Governor of Ken
lucky, Happy" Chandler, is a per-
son to be reckoned with, and If he
comes to the Senate, he will un-
doubtedly want to have his hand in
the political pie of 1910. He is an
active, vigorous and attractive per-
sonality. He might have good
| deal to say about the delegation
which goes from Kentucky to the
/ Democratic National Convention
next year. The administration is
counting on that delegation for sup
port for its candidate for the presi-
dental nomination, no matter who
that may be.
Gov. Chandler is not inclined to
wait, as he has demonstrated in the
past. He insisted upon running for
the Senate against the veteran
Senator Barkley. 1t is said he is
disinclined to wait now-but he may.
A former Governor of Alabama, Bibb
Graves, when Justice Black was
taken from the Senate and placed
on the Supreme Court by President
Roosevelt, solved the vacancy ques-
ton by appointing his wife, Mrs.
Graves, to sit in the Senate.