Evening star., 1940-03-31

S'eto 6C"s
CONTESTS involving third of the
membership of the Senate will rival
in intensity and interest the 1910 fight
for the presidency Seats in 80 States
are involved. Twenty three are held by
Democrats. Seven have Republican in
cumbents. One Farmer-Laborite (Ship-
stead of Minnesota) and one Progressive
Oa Toilette of wisconsin, must also face
the electoral guns in November. Two
Senators are unaffected by the impend-
ing campaign, as both are retiring from
public life-Donahey of Ohio. Democrat,
and Hale of Maine, Republican. The
third-term issue may be factor In some
places. More than one Democratic
aspirant for reelection bankers to cling
to the Roosevelt coat-tails as the surest
guarantee of victory. No White House
purge, 1888 model. is IN sight this year.
The Democrats have no reason to view
the coming elections with alarm. Their
present Senate majority of a over all
other parties will probably be reduced In
the Seventy-Seventh Congress. but con.
troll of the upper branch cannot pos
sibly be wrested from them before 1912.
New Deal party managers concede that
perhaps 10 seats are doubtful this year,
including some half-dozen now in DEM
ocratic possession. But, even if all 10
we're to pass into other hands, the donkey
would still bestride the Senate chamber
for the next two years by majority of
20-odd over the combined opposition.
johnson in California.
California will rate as senatorially
doubtful, unless Hiram johnson con-
trlves, as in 1884, to win both Republi-
can and Democratic nominations The
battle-scarred irreconcilable, vigorous
and virile on the verge of his diamond
jubilee year, is not assured New Deal in
dorsement because of his opposition to
the Roosevelt administration during the
court and neutrality fights, and on other
occasions. He remains Overwhelmingly
California's favorite son, but, with to-
days preponderantly Democratic regis
tration, strong Democratic candidate
might give johnson tough race.
Young Bob" La Toilette will try to
restore the shattered political fortunes
Of the Progressive party, still smarting
from the licking it took in 1888. by seek
ingrenomination and reelection to the
Senate as an outright Progressive. He
hopes for, but is not yet certain Of New
Deal support. If he gets Democratic
coalition backing, Bob" should win in
November, though he may face stiff op-
position in Representative Keefe of Osh-
kosh, now mentioned as prospective
Republican nominee.
No Democrat Is on hotter spot than
Senator Joe Guffey of Pennsylvania,
original Roosevelt third-termer and
thick-and- New Dealer. His hope of
a second term may be thwarted by a po-
tent and plutocratic primary opponent,
Walter A. Jones Of Pittsburgh, chairman
of the State Turnpike Commission and
open handed Democratic campaign angel
since 1888. The Republicans, having re-
elected Senator Jim Davis and recap
tured the governorship in 1898, are conf
dent of completely retrieving Pennsyl-
vania by electing G. o. P. successor to
Guffey. The well-heeled -Annenberg
machine has picked Jay Cooke, Phila-
delphia County chairman, for the sena-
torial nomination.
Frazier to Battle.
Out in North Dakota, veteran Lynn J..
Frazier, who has spent II years in the
Senate and seeks fourth term. faces the
toughest denomination battle of his
career. Former Gov. Bill LANCER has
been put up by the Non-Partisan League
convention and will enter the Republic
an primaries against Frazier.
In neighboring Minnesota, Senator
Henrik Shipstead also is waging stiff
fight for self succession. Ever since
he came to Washington as the con-
queror of Frank B. Kellogg, the stat
uesque Norseman has been returned by
successively increased majorities. Once,
as Farmer-Labor candidate, he carried
every county in the State, but Minnesota
in 1898 returned to ancient Republican
moorings and dealt the Farmer-Labor
group what some politicians considered
q death blow.
Out In the Corn Belt, Senator Edward
r. Burke of Nebraska, q one-time
prophet of the New Deal, will fight it
out in the Democratic primary April
with Gov. Roy L. Cochran. All reports
l indicate Burkes denomination, though