Evening star., 1948-10-07
The Political Mill
Senate Control May Rest
On Mountain States Vote
Democrats Expect to Garry All Four;
G. 0. P. Hopes to Capture Two
r., EouJJ :x.,J.,

DENVER, Oct. 7.-Party control of the next
Senate may easily rest with the outcome of
elections in four Of the mountain States
Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and New Mexico
Incumbents in three of them are Democrats.
The fourth Wyoming, now has Republican,
Senator E. " Robertson.
The Democrats hope to carry them all; in
deed. they say they will. The Republicans
would be overjoyed if they come out ahead
in two Of these senatorial contests. The best
chances for the Republicans appear to lie in
holding the Wyoming Senate seat and taking
away from the Democrats the Montana seat
now held by Senator Murray
While the Republicans seem fairly certain
Of carrying Colorado and Wyoming for Gov.
Dewey in the presidential race they are up
against Democratic senatorial candidates in
both these States who appear to have the edge.
Senator Ed" johnson in Colorado and Gov
Lester c. Hunt in Wyoming are furnishing
the Republicans with plenty of headaches
Both are popular and both have long records
of success at the polls. A real Dewey sweep,
If 1t materializes, might bring their defeat
Republican Entries.
Against these two veterans in politics the
Republicans have entered Senator Robertson,
who never held public Office until he was
elected to the Senate in 1942 from Wyoming
and Will F. Nicholson, who is making his first
bid for political preferment in Colorado Mr..
Nicholson physically will top the Senate if he
Is elected-he stands six feet four and half
inches. He's war veteran and has been
campaigning for the Senate since last Decem-
Der. Since both Colorado and Wyoming seem
10 be going Republican in the presidential
election, it is obvious that Senator johnson
md TSNu Hunt Dc, o1iooo
to put them across If Colorado should 60 for
Gov. Dewey by more than $4,000 majority
Senator johnson would be in real danger.
Senator johnson and Gov. Hunt have many
Republican friends in their respective States,
and that is what the Democrats are relying
on.
Gov. Hunt was a dentist in Lander Wyo.
before he took to holding public office The
dental profession supplied another United
States Senator-Shipstead of Minnesota, who
held office for many years. He was retired
however, by the 1916 primary in which Gov.
Thye, now Senator, won the Republican NOM
ination.
In Montana there is nip and tuck race
between Senator Murray, Democrat, and Tom
Davis, Republican. Mr.. Davis. Butte lawyer,
is the fair-haired boy of the Republicans there
this year, who are putting on a strong drive
for him. Senator Murray might easily lose
enough Democratic votes-in the old Wheeler
faction-to make it impossible for him to win.
Race In New Mexico.
The New Mexico Senate race finds Pat Hur-
ley, former Secretary of War; former general
and ambassador pitted against former Secre-
tary of the Interior Anderson, who resigned
from the Cabinet to seek the Democratic SEN
atorial nomination. While the Republicans
have carried elections in New Mexico, the
State is preoominantly Democratic. Senator
Carl Hatch, Democrat, declined to run to sue
ceed himself and will 60 on the Federal bench.
This is Mr. Hurley's second consecutive try
for the Senate He lost to Senator Chavez in
1916, strongly Republican year. While Mr..
Hurley has a fighting chance, it will be a
surprise should he defeat Mr. Anderson
The Republicans, in support of their Senate
candidates in these States, are pleading with
the voters not to jeopardize Republican control
Of the upper house of Congress. If Gov. Dewey
Is to be In the White House it would not make
for good government, they say.