The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1949-11-17


1t gives the political picture
for the coming year, which
should be of interest TO all
Noble countians.
Don't be surprised if State Sen
ator Tom Moorehead enters the
race for congress next year. He
has been itching, to get his feet
wet in a bigger political puddle
for several years now, and
friends say the time is at hand.
Not many think he can beat
Bob Secrest in November and it
is quite doubtful if the senator
thinks so either. But he sees his
chance to project himself into
district politics in the hope that
he can set the stage for victory
in 1852.
BY that time, he has reason to
hope there will be Republican
trend such as the one in 1916, or
perhaps Bob Secrest will be try
ing for bigger things by that
time.
With any candidate other than
Secrest, the Democrats are given
little chance to carry the pre-
dominantly Republican 18th dis
trict. Charles w. Lynch of Mon
roe county and Olney R. Gillogly
of Muskingum county will bear
witness to that. Both tried and
failed during the war years.
Griffiths Comeback
If Moorhead does go for the
COP nomination in May, the out
look is bright for a hot race, for
it is believed that P. w. Griffiths,
the Marietta former congress
man, will try comeback after
being decisively whipped by Sc
crest in l948.
This question was put to Grit
fiths yesterday: "Are you going
to run for the nomination to con-
greSS IN l95O.
His answer:
"It looks that way but l
haven't fully made up my mind.
People here lin Marietta) and all
over the district are urging me
to run. | won't know for a month
and a half yet. I'll make up my
mind while I'm hunting in Michi-
gan. I'm leaving next week and
will spend ten days there before
going to Pennsylvania to hunt
deer. When l come back I'll give
definite answer"
Griffiths and Moorehead have
less than three months to decide.
Deadline for filing primary NOM
mating petitions comes in Febru-
ary.
May Beat Griffiths
There are some here who be-
lieve the former GAINESVILLE may
or could beat Griffiths in two
man primary race. Therg is al
ways a chance, of course, that a
third Republican might get into
the picture and upset all calcula-
tions.
William O'Neill of Marietta,
minority leader in the state
house of representatives, has had
his heart set on congress but it
is believed that he is too shreWd
politician to tackle Secrest next
year, particularly if he has to
engage in a bitter primary battle
in May.
O'NeiIl Picture
If Griffiths and O'Neill were
both to try for the COP nomina-
ton, it is conceded that Moore
head would win easily, assuming
of course that he obtains the
whole-hearted endorsement of
the Muskingum county Republi-
can club.
And even if Griffiths were not
to run it is unlikely that O'Neill
would wish to tackle Moorehead,
who has the positive idea in his
head that the next congressman
should come from Muskingum
county.
So look for O'Neill to run for
attorney general in 1850, with a
reasonable chance of success. He
is popular and has many friends
among Repub ublican n leaders
throughout the state, with the
result that he has much better
chance to be attorney general
than congressman. The 18th dis
trict race will be rough for a Re-
publican in 1850 and he knows
it. So does Mcorehead and so
Griffiths, who shared with Tom
Dewey the distinction Of being
the most surprised Republican in
the United States year ago this
month.
1850 Senate Race
Most politicians look upon
Mayor Burke's one-sided victory
at Cleveland as a clincher for
those who consider him the logi-
cal opponent for Senator Taft
next year.
All of which would seem to
shape things up in Bob Secrests
favor for a try at the governor
ship in 1852