Evening star., 1946-10-26

gressional districts now held by
Democrats-the 1st, I'd and 3d-and
to hold the 4th district which the
Republicans now have.
The Democrats are striving just
as desperately to re-elect Senator
Kilgore as the Republicans are to
elect Mr.. Sweeney. Senator Kilgore
has been in the State now for
weeks, but previously he was giving
much Of his time to the senatorial
investigating committee which first
sprang into prominence as the
Truman Committee" and then was
headed by Senator Mead now
Democratic gubernatorial candidate
against Gov. Dewey Of New York
and to travel abroad.
Tom Sweeney, his more youthful
opponent-Mr. Sweeney is 43 years
old-has been making an active
campaign throughout the State, by
pel<onal contact, personal letter and
stump speaking ever since he left
the Navy. He was naval air navi-
gator and saw much service in both
the European and Pacific areas dur
ing the war. Mr.. Sweeney is no
stranger to West Virginia; a great
grandfather-also Thomas-was one
Of the original incorporators of the
city OF Wheeling lis years ago. Ever
since that time Mr.. Sweeney's fam
lily has played prominent role in
the State, In business and In public
office.
The present Tom Sweeney was q
writer on Time Magazine and then
on the New York Herald Tribune,
after he left college, but returned to
Wheeling to 60 into the insurance
agency which had been established
by his grandfather and in which he
is now a partner.
Six years ago. Mr.. Sweeney took
it into his head to make try for
the Senate-he was then q member
of the State Senate. In q four cor
nered race, contesting against three
widely known Republicans, young
Sweeney won the nomination, and
ran against Senator Kilgore. He
lost by about 111,000 votes In that
presidential year, with Mr.. Roose-
welt heading the Democratic ticket.
This year he believes it will be Diff
fereI1t and he Is working at 1t, day
and night. - ~ ~,
Speakers Brought In.
The Democrats have brought into
the State several speakers to aid
Senator Kilgore,s including Attorney
General Clark and former Mayor La
Guardia of New York. They are
seeking to hold the support of labor
generally. The burden Of the Kill
gore campaign is, don't go back to
the days Of 1880 and 1882, with their
bread lines" Mr.. Sweeney. for his
part, Is talking about present-day
issues particularly bureaucratic
government from Washington, the
OPA and the meat shortage. He
pours 1t on Senator Kilgore as an
extreme leftist, whom the Com
munists would delight to have re-
elected.
Representative Nicely, former gov
ernor and Senator, Is In q tough
race in the 1st District (the Wheel
ing District). His Republican op-
ponent, Francis Love, while no
world-beater as a campaigner. is
well regarded as Republican leaders
in Wheeling insist he will defeat
Mr.. Nicely. Jennings Randolph, one
Of the most effective Democratic
members of the House, is fighting
for his political life in the 2nd,
where he had the narrowest kind
Of a victory in 1912. In the 3rd
District, Representative Bailey,
Democrat, also is having trouble.
If the Republican swing is on, as
is suspected rather than known to-
day, all three of these districts may
wind up in the Republican column.
Democrats insist they will hold
them all, and also will take away
from the Republicans the single
congressional district the COP now
has, the 4th. Representative Ellis,
however, survived the Roosevelt
campaign in 1914, and 1t does not
seem likely the Democrats can upset
him now.