Evening star., 1947-12-30
The Political Mill
Senate Control Promises
To Be Major '48 Issue
Democrats Could Rule Upper Body
by Gain of Four Seats
Bv Gould Lincoln


Control Of the Senate promises to become
major issue in the national elections OF 1913.
The political makeup Of the Upper House today
is 81 Republican and As Democratic. In other
words, should the Democrats hold all As Of their
present Senate seats and gain three from the
Republicans the Senate would be evenly divided
between the two parties. A gain Of four seats
by the Democrats would throw control to their
party.
Thirty two SenatorS-one-th third OF the Senate
membership up for reelection. Eighteen
are Republicans and IA are Democrats. All but
four of the Democrats hail from the solid
South"-making 1t difficult for the Republicans
to make much Of a gain in the Senate even
though Republican be elected President Tho
four Democrats outside the South are Green OF
Rhode Island, Hatch Of New Mexico, johnson Of
Colorado and Murray Of Montana. The Re-
publicans' better chances appear to be In
Colorado and Montana particularly should
Senator johnson adhere to his determination
not to run for another term, and should Gov.
Ford Of Montana decide to make the race
against Senator Murray. Even in 1s4s the
Republicans were unable to elect Senator in
Rhode Island, and New Mexico is a tough spot
for the COP.
Eight Face Hard Going.
There are eight Republican Senator'S Ball Of
Minnesota, Brooks Of Illinois, Buck Of Delaware,
Cooper Of Kentucky, Dworshak Of Idaho, Moore
of Oklahoma, Revercomb Of West Virginia and
Robertson OF Wyoming, who may find it hard
going, If the national election Is close. II
third party headed by Henry Wallace, enter
ing the field divides the Democratic vote, .
Republican presidential candidate might squeeze
through to victory but some Of these Repub-
ncan. senatorial candidates could fall by tho
wayside. Senators Cooper and Moore are re-
garded as the most Observation-Disclosures In
view OF the Democratic victory in Kentucky
last November and the indication Of Demo-
cratic strength in Oklahoma.
Rarely has newly elected President had to
face Senate controlled by the opposition party.
But 1t has happened. President Grover Cleve-
land and President Garfield are cases In point.
Garfield entered the White House in March,
1881, and died of an assassin's bullet In Septem-
ber of that year. His successor, Chester A.
Arthur-who had been Vice President-faced q
Democratic Senate until the Republicans took
over year later. Cleveland on the other hand,
had to buck Republican Senate all four years
OF his first term, which began in March, 1885.
Had President Arthur died before the Re-
publicans gained control of the Senate,
Democratic President pro tempore OF the Senate
would have been acting President. Thomas A
Hendrick Of Indiana, elected Vice President
with Cleveland in 1884, died In November. 1885.
In that case, had President Cleveland died
during his first year in Office, he would have
been succeeded by a Republican President pro
tempore of the Senate 1t was in 1885 that the
law of succession to the Office Of President was
changed so that If both the President and Vice
President died the office would go to the Secre-
tary of State and on down the line Of cabinet
officers.
Law Again Changed.
At the instance Of President Truman,
Democrat, the law Of succession was again
changed. in 1947. This time the Speaker OF the
House was placed first in line for presidential
ofhce-and a Republican, Speaker Martin,
would enter the White House in the event Of
the death of Mr.. Truman.
Republican President, entering the White
House in January, 194s, would have just about
as much use for Democratic Senate as cat
has for two tails-or as President Truman has
for Republican Congress today. It Is easy to
understand, therefore, that the COP will
make desperate efforts to retain control Of the
Senate in the coming elections. So far as the
House Is concerned-it is practically certain
that it will be controlled by the party which
elects President. The entire membership Of
the House will be elected, giving full scope to
the drift of political sentiment at the time Of
the election
For similar reasons-in the reverse-the
Democrats will do everything in their power to
take the Senate control away from the Re-,
publicans Should President Truman be con-
tinued in office, even though he had Demo-
cratic House. Republican Senate would be
constant thorn in his side. A Republican
Senate could continue to hamstring his legisla-
tive program and to harass his appointees to
Office.
Questions and Answers
BY THE HAsKIN SERVICE.