Evening star., 1949-11-22
The Political Mill
20 Democratic Senators
Facing Voters Next Year
At Least Six Are Certain to Meet
Strong Opposition in Race
Bv Gould Lincoln

Twenty Democratic Senators come up for
denomination and reelection next year-plus
one Democrat who is to be appointed to the
Senate when Senator Baldwin, Republican.
resigns at the end Of the year. These gentle
men have to be renominated before they race
Republican opponents in the general election
and it is not all beer and skittles for some
strong opposition.
There are, for example, Senator Downey
of California and Senator Thomas Of Okla
homa. Both, it appears, will be fought for
denomination by members OF the House from
their respective States. In California, Mrs.
Helen Gahagan Douglas has already an
nounced she will run for the Senatorial
nomination. Representative Mike Monroney
is regarded as practically certain to seek
the Senate seat held by Senator Thomas. al
though he has made no formal announce
ment He has been in Oklahoma canvassing
the situation. Mrs. Douglas, flaming Fair
Dealer. will give the veteran Senator Downey
hot race, and Mr.. Monroney may sink
Senator Thomas. The Oklahoma Senator,
who will be seeking a fifth term in the Sem
ate, recently hit the headlines In contro-
versy with Sweden over the treatment
accorded him as q member Of Senate COM
mittee visiting that country. Representative
Monroney has had eleven years in the House.
was co-sponsor with former Senator La Fol-
lette Of Wisconsin of the act streamlining the
legislative branch, and In 1945 received
Golfers award for distinguished congress
sional service.
Two In South Challenged.
Two of the Senators whose right to re-
nomination may be seriously challenged hail
from the South-one from South Carolina,
Olin D. Johnston, and the other from Florida,
Claude Pepper. The expectation is that Sem
x,,in Ind inc
Gov. Thurmond, Democratic States Rights
candidate for President in 1948. II that sit.
uation comes about, the race will be not only
hot but will be followed with the keenest
interest throughout the South and, indeed.
the rest of the country. Gov. Thurmond
embodes the spirit OF antagonism In the
South against the Truman program (partic-
ularly the civil rights portion OF that pro-
gram. This is responsible for the failure
Of Mr.. Truman to carry four OF the states
of the solid South last year. Senator Johns.
ton, on the other hand, has far better
standing with the Truman administration.
He kept aloof from the presidential fracas IN
his State in 1948 and undoubtedly would
have the support of the Truman Democrats
In such showdown.
Senator Pepper, fighting liberal, may be
opposed for the nomination by Representa-
tive Smathers, Marine veteran OF the last
war now In his S6COLO IcIu III Vic 11ouoe.
Mr.. Pepper was one Of those Democrats who
sought most earnestly to have some other
candidate substituted for President Truman
at the time Of the Democratic National Con-
vention last year. He himself became q
candidate-for "a hours-after It became
certain that Gen. Eisenhower would not run.
The opposition to Senator Pepper Is begin.
ming to manifest itself.
Rumblings In Idaho.
Out in Idaho, there are rumblings ana
worse over the present senior Senator, Glen
n. Taylor, Henry Wallace's running mate IN
the presidential campaign Of 194s. The
Democrats will dump him, II they can find .
candidate strong enough to take his measure
and if not Senator Taylor may have
tough time in the general election against
Republican opponent, when the Republican
Governor, c. A. Robins, may seek the Senate
seat. A sixth Senator who may md himself
in trouble, according to accounts, is Senator
Thomas Of Utah.
The rest Of the Democratic incumbents
who must seek denomination seem to be sa1e
although opposition Of serious nature could
arise within the next eight months.
Democratic leaders, looking forward to the
senatorial campaign next year. say they have
good chances Of taking at least three seats
now held by Republcans-in Missouri, Nom
tana and Indiana, and have fair chances IN
Colorado, New Hampshire and. Wisconsin.
They do not at this date feel they have
real chance to beat Senator Taft in Ohio.