Evening star., 1946-05-12
StanfiII Won't Seek
To Keep Seat But Will
Aid Party Candidate
BY Gould Lincoln

Senator Stanflll, Republican, of
Kentucky, announced yesterday heI
would not be candidate for nomi-
nation to succeed himself in the
primary August 3. He plans, how
ever, to give every effort, as chair
man of the Republican State Cen
tral Committee, to the election of
a Republican to fill the Senate seat.
Kentucky Republicans are going
into the coming campaign, for the
Senate seat and for four House
seats, with high hopes. The elec-
ton of Republican Senator in
Kentucky would not add to the
present party strength in the Sem
ate-but it is argued that if the
COP can win in this border State"
which has been consistently Demo-
cratic, except for the gubernatorial
election in l943, for many years, it
can hope to elect Republican Sena-
tors in other States to succeed
Democratic Eincurnbents. The Re-
publicans now have 80 Senate seats
and need 10 more for majority.
Circuit Judge John Sherman
Cooper of Somerset apparently is.
the choice of the Republican lead
ers in the State for the Senatorial
nomination. He is veteran of
both World Wars. If Gov Willis
has had in the past any ambitions
to run for the Senate he has now
laid them aside 1t was Gov. Willis
who appointed Senator Stanfill to-
the Senate when former Senator
A. B. Happy" Chandler resigned
last year to become the car of base
bali.
Can't Succeed Self.
Gov. Willis will continue as Gov
ernor until after the election in the
fall of 1947. Under State law he
cannot run to succeed himself as
Governor.
The Republicans in Kentucky
were greatly encouraged by the last
Louisville elections, when they
elected all city and county officials
except the mayor Further they be-
lieve that the political trend in the
State is distinctly Republican as it
was in l943. The following year the
State swung back into the Demo-
cratic column behind the late Presi-
dent Roosevelt. With Mr. Roose-
welt out of the picture, however, and
many of the people reported dis
gruntled over the Truman admins
tration. the Republicans have re-
gained their confidence.
On the Democratic side two cam
didates so far have appeared for
the senatorial nomination, John
Young Brown. who tried to upset !
Senator Chandler in 1912, and
Philip P Ardery, 32-year-old Air
Force veteran. In some quarters
efforts are being made tc have
former Gov Keen Johnson-who
was succeeded by Gov. Willis-enter
the race. So far Mr.. Johnson has
not committed himself either way.
The final filing date is June s.
Hope to Get House Seats.
The Republicans hope to win in
the Seventh, Eighth and Ninth
congressional districts-they now
hold the ninth, represented by Rep
resentative Robsion-and send three
Representative to the next Con-
gress If their: hopes are fulfilled
1t would mean the retirement Of
Representative May in the seventh
district and Representative Bates in
the eighth These three districts
are mountain districts where the
Republicans have been strong in
the past. The Republicans will also
battle hard to win the third. or
Louisville district, with some pros
pect of success, they say.
In the overall senatorial pic
ture. Republicans will strive par
ticularly to win seats now held by
Democrats in Ohio, Pennsylvania,
New Mexico, Idaho, Massachusetts,.
Maryland wyoming, Missouri. West
Virginia, Wisconsin, New York and
Delaware-a dozen States. If they
can hold their present strength in
the Senate and take 10 of these
Democratic seats, they will control
the Senate in the next Congress.
1t is a tough assignment, how
ever, and they must have all the
breaks to put across their victory
Moreover, they have a real fight
on their hands to retain their pres
ent Republican Senator from CAL
Ifornia-SenatOr KDOulan6