The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-07

He IS senator Artnur VanQen- berg of Michigan, one of the toughest free.for -all-fighters in the Senate, who on January 3 be- gins his third consecutive term. To serve three Senate terms may seem commonplace to a public which remembers the long records of Borah, AShurst, Smith and Nor ris. But the fact is that while many of the Democrats now in the Senate have served three or more terms, the past decade has seen so many humping Democra- tic majoritieS that only six Re- publicans can boast that distinc- tion. Vandenberg is one of them.
 Unquestionably he became an "elder statesman" only by the skin of his teeth. But he got there. And the chances are that after four more stormy years, the Sena- tor from Michigan still will be promising and perennial presiden- tial timber.
 TOUGH ELECTIONS
 Vandenbergh was first appoint ed to fill a Senate vacancy in 1928. Reelection was easy, but thereafter he had to fight the heaviest kinds of odds.
 When he next came up in 1884 he faced the tOrrential New Deal vote which decimated the COP in Congress. Vanden- berg thought he was 8 sure gOner. But by not attacking the New Deal Ia maneuver which privately enraged national Re- publican headquarters), Van- denberg skinned through by a margin of 5000 out of more than 100000 votes cast.
 This year also the odds were against Vandenberg's election. He had a strong isolationist record, the powerful auto workers were after his scalp, the Michigan COP regime was national joke, and Roosevelt himself headed the Dem ocratic ticket. It looked as if Van- denberg's goose was cooked.
 But although the Republican governor was sOundly trOunced and Willkie squeaked through by a still disputed count of 6,926 out of more than 100000 votes, Vandenberg emerged triumphant with the impressive majority of 113,464. This is truly remark able achievement.
 1944 WHITE HOPE
 To many of his friends, Senator Vandenberg's reelection has re- vived presidential hopes for 1944.
 If he does throw his hat in that ring, it will be his third try. In 1886 and even more so this year, Van was a serious contender. Fur thermore there are plenty of poli- ticians who will argue that he would have made a much strong CT candidate than either Landon or Willkie.
 Whether Vandenberg will be in the running by the time 1944 rolls around is cOnjectural. Four years is long time i'm politics. But one thing is certain: the name of Vandenberg will appear often and prominently in the list of tOp-rung Republican pos abilities.
 He has the faculty of coming up from behind and winning in the final stretch. Also, he has all the external requirements of A standard-bearer.
 Four years ago at Cleveland Vandenberg could have had the presidential nomination on @ sil- yer platter. At Philadelphia this year he finally threw the Michi. gan delegation to Willkie, which started the bandwagon rush that put Willkie over the top. So, giv- on the right breaks. Vandenberg might make the grade in l944. ELDER STATESMAN
 There was a period during his first years in the Senate when Vandenberg took no popularity prizes among his veteran party colleagues. The young Michigan. der was piqued at the way Senate leaders disregarded the younger members, and organized . group Of them iTi order to make their influence better felt in the Inner councils.
 This didn't slt well with Repub. lican veterans and Vandenberg got hazed Ger his pains, especially by