Evening star., 1940-01-21
State Executives
Are Eyeing Seats
In j. ). Senate
Cochran, Stark Expected
To Run; O'DonieI
May Be Candidate

May Be Candidate
By the Associated Press.
The special type of political bug
that bites Governors and former
State executives in even numbered
years is abroad in the land again,
and the boys are casting longing
glances toward seats in the United
States Senate.
Among it's victims are exactly
one-sixth of the Senate member
ship-16 former Governors repre-
senting IA States (Kansas and New
Hampshire have two) If 1910 brings
its usual complement, the number
of former Governors in the Senate
may be increased.
AS a sign of preseason poaching
by the bug, couple of Governors
already are displaying symptoms of
its sting. Gov R. L. Cochran of
Nebraska is counted a cinch bet to
oppose Senator Edward r. Burke
for the Democratic nomination in
that State, and Gov. Lloyd Stark
is expected to get into the Missouri
Democratic primary against Senator
Harry S. Truman.
O'Daniel May Seek Seat.
There has been some speculation
nothing more-that Gov. w. l..
ODaniel, Texas Democratic execu-
tive, might oppose Senator Tom
Connally.
Evidences also have cropped out
that some who carry the title of
former Governor but now hold no
high political Office may seek seats
In the Senate.
Among these, according to report,
is William j. LANCER of North
Dakota, who would be opposing
another former State executive if
he entered the Republican primary
against Senator Lynn J. Frazier.
There is possibility, also, that
two more former Governors whose
Senate terms expire in 1941 will
face other former Governors in the
primaries.
This might happen in the case
of Senator David 1. Walsh if for
mer Gov. James M. Curley chose
to run in Massachusetts,.
Ohios Democratic primary con-
ceivably might find former Gov. Vic
Donahey opposed for denomination
by Former Gov. Martin L. Davey.
Holt May Run for Governor.
Some Ohio politicians, however,
were reported to be attempting to
convince Mr.. Donahey to reverse
the trend, and seek the Democratic
nomination to oppose Gov. John w.
Bricker.
West Virginia's stormy political
scene also might see one or two
Senators seeking to exchange their
Senate seats for the Governors
chair. Senator Rush Holt, whose
term is expiring, has told friends
that he might be a candidate for
the Democratic gubernatorial NOM
ination. There have been reports
Senator Matthew M. Nicely, whose
Senate term does not expire until
1943, might do likewise.
Precedent "a word the Senate
reveres) already has been established
for this sort of thing. Gov. A.
Harry Moore left the Senate two
years ago to return to the New
Jersey Statehouse, where the emolu-
ments of Office ($2O00O salary and
$4,000 expenses year, are greater
than the Senate's ($10OOO and
a man may make decisions without
waiting for 95 other fellows to make
up their minds.
This is one of the disadvantages
most of the former Governors have
encountered when they have come
to the Senate.
Scratch a former Governor and
you will find a dissatisfied sort of
fellow" one wise politician observed.
They're used to being a pretty big
frog in the puddle and it comes as
something of a surprise to some of
them when they find they are only
one of 96 around here"
But if the Senate's contingent of
former State Executives have been
affected by this sort of feeling they
have managed to hide it well.
Johnson Seeks denomination.
The veteran of this contingent is
white-maned Hiram w. Johnson,
who came 10 the Senate in 1916
after having served two terms as
Governor of California. Senator
johnson expects to be in the thick
of the fight for Senate renomina-
ton on the Republican ticket next
year.
Latest to join the ranks is A. B.
Chandler, who quit as Governor of
Kentucky to accept appointment to
the Senate last fall when Sena-
tor M. M. Logan, Democrat, of Ken
lucky died. Senator Chandler has
announced that he will be candi-
date at the next election.
Kansas and New Hampshire both
have rewarded former Republican
Governors with Senate seats. These
Senators are Arthur Capper and
Clyde M. Reed, of Kansas, and
Charles w. Tobey and Styles
Bridges of New Hampshire. The
four, with Senators Johnson, Frazier
and John G. Townsend, jr., of Della
ware, make up the Republican wing
Of the "exes" contingent.
Among the Democrats, besides
Mr.. Chandler, Mr. Walsh and Mr..
Donahey, are Senators Richard B.
Russell of Georgia, Clyde L. Her
ring of Iowa, Theodore G. Bilbo of
Mississippi, Theodore F. Green of
Rhode Island, William j. Bulow of
South Dakota and Harry F. Byrd
of Virginia.
Y. W. G. A. News