The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-09-12


inally was elect
ed at a time when Utah was
strongly Republican, evidently be-
cause, regardless Of his politics,
his home greatly liked him person.
ally.
For q long while he served
simultaneously with as dyed-in-
the-wool an old Mormon as Sena-
tor Reed Smoot. They were a queer
duo. coming from the same con-
stituency-poles apart, partisanly
speaking. Smoot ultimately lost
out, but King held on for hard
onto a generation. His legislative
associates on CAPITOL Hill, maybe
excepting an especially well-posted
group from in and closely around
Utah, generally had taken 1t for
granted that his denomination and
reelection were foregone conclu-
sions. He has been a very popular
senator among them and they were
downright shocked to hear that
he'd been beaten.
The city Of Washingtons own
residents are in a other over the
tidings, also, for the senator of late
has been chairman of his cham
ber's District OF Columbia commit
tee, a post roughly corresponding
to mayor Of the capital. And he's
been a remarkably good one
warmly devoted to the munich
pality's interests.
Too Much a Washingtonlan
Probably Senator King was too
much Washingtonian for his own
good, out in Utah.
That's apt to be a consideration
which handicaps congress District
chairmen. Their home voters tend
to feel that their local interests
are being neglected in favor Of
Washington's. -sr--s,s,.s--- ..-.-.---.,
Back when the Republicans were
In majority and held all the con-
gressional Craftsmanship, Senator
Arthur Capper Of Kansas was the
District groups head, but he kept
pretty close to the grass roots, too.
He likewise has some SunLower
state newspapers, which constant
ly remind Kansas that he's one Of
them. And he broadcasts to them
every few weeks, over the radio.
Senator King. in his "A years Of
service, hasn't often been back to
Utah, to attend to his fences. He's
virtually lived all the time in
Washington, particularly since he's
been mayor. It's conceivable that
Utah-ites think he's neglected
them.
The moral Is:
Senators and representatives
who accept District committee as
signments do it at considerable
risk TO their denomination and re-
election chances. They may be
mighty faithful servants OF the
District, but the District hasn't
any votes to give them in return
for their services.
Votes for the ID. &.
To be sure, there's beer consid-
cradle agitation Of late in favor of
giving franchise rights to the Dis
trict The Democrats spoke for the
idea In their last national plat
form.
Senator King hasn't been friend
ly TO the notion. That, however,
didn't have anything to do with
his denomination defeat. What the
heck does Utah care about the Dis
trict Of Columbia, For that mat
ter, the District itself isn't 100 per
cent pro-franchise. Some folk are.
but many are not. The latter bunch
object on the ground that the Dis
trict's Negro population is so large
that the Afro Americans might
WELD the balance Of power.
Al a guess, 1t would seem that
Senator King missed fire because
Ctah's Democracy is New Dealer
Lsh. In comparison with Senator
Smoot l used to think he was a
hrst-class old-fashioned liberal. but
he's been unfriendly to a lot OF
New Dea. policies.
Representative Abe Murdoch,
who beat him for the senatorial
nomination, is rip-snorting New
Dealer.
Wait for November
On top Of that is the fact that
Senator King has neglected his
bailiwick. On the opposite hand,
Abe Murdoch has been cultivating
Il ass!duously
It's kinda melancholy. though, to