Evening star., 1949-04-03
Wherry Works
ForG.O. P. Bid
n. tt NniI
by JOCK Bell

II the name OF Kenneth Spicef
Wherry doesn't go before the 1882
convention as q presi-
dental candidate. 1t will surprise
q number of people -- including
Kenneth Spicer Wherry.
Senator Wherry. Republican. OF
Nebraska, who sometimes looks
like q Nebraska windmill when he
gets into action on the Senate
floor. is laying the groundwork for
what he and friends hope will be
a grass roots boom for q man from
the plains.
From his vantage point as Sen
ate Republican floor leader. the
s7-year-old Nebraskan has swept
the horizon and apparently has
decided there's no reason why he
shouldn't go after the nomination
Being Republican floor leader
gives Senator Wherry q forum
that's hard TO match. he sta
across the aisle from Senator
Scott Lucas OF Illinois. the Demo
cratic leader.
Has Gained Down
The ie4s wherry doesn't lose
his temper % often as the fellow
who barked his way into running
fight with President Truman over
price controls q couple OF years
ago.
In the Republican soth Con-
gress he served as acting moor
leader with all the sublety OF q
fire engine roaring TO q ffVe-alarm
blaze.
Some OF his colleagues thought
last January 1t might be well 10
have some one q little smoother so
up against Lucas in the slst.
But Senator Wherry went 70
work buttonholing Republicans.
He soon had his Job cinched.
One thing that helped nail
down the job was his assertion
that the floor leader doesn't make
policy but only carries 1t out.
Every one knew that Senators
Taft Of Ohio. Vandenberg oi
Michigan and Millikin OF Colorado
carried the most weight In Re-
publican Party decisions.
Lately. however. Wherry has
been stepping over into that field
too. A prime example was his
sponsorship Of the compromise
change in the Senate's rules which
permits 64 Senators TO end debate
at any time. except when the
Senate Is talking about taking up
some future rules change.
Worked Rules Compromise
Senator Rnowiand OF California
advocated that sort Of compro-
mise with the Southern Democrat
fiiibusterers when the matter was
discussed In the conference Of Re-
publican Senators.
Senator Taft wasn't much for
1t. He rather sided with Lucas
idea of Just letting the Senate
adjourn and thus ending the
filibusters. Senator Wherry at
first was inclined 10 agree with
Taft.
Senator Lodge Of Massachusetts.
who Is widely regarded rs q presi-
Dental candidate in his own
right. promptly came out for the
compromise.
Senator Wherry got the Senate
10 recess for a day. He ap-
proechsd---or was approached By
the Southern Democrats. He,
Knowiand and Senator Russell oi
Georgia got SO Senators--nore
than q matority---to pledge their
support 10 the compromise. Ths
coalition rolled over the admin
istration by q e3-to-23 vote.
The Nebraska Senator now calls
IL the "Wherry rule" Some Of
his colleagues are not too sure
that this win be an unmixed
blessing In the future--especiaIiy
II the Senate fails TO whip . nli-
buster when civil rights measures
come up.
But for q fellow who started out
in politics ~ o member OF the
Pawnee City. Eenr.. Council in
1927. became Mayor. State Senator.
COP State chairman and. finally.
United States Senator. its og1e Of
those things you take In your
strife,
Nebraska has only six electoral
votes. Major parties don't often
20 10 such areas Tor their can
didates. but tbs Republicans viii
be looking toward the Midwest
three pears frum now