Evening star., 1949-12-08
The Political Mill
Toft's Ohio Opposition
Seen in 'Muddied State
Is Candidates Have Cropped Up
For Democratic Nomination
Bv Gould Lincoln

Senator Taft of Ohio, bellwether Of the
Republican Party in Congress, is not giving
up the COP, nor does he admit it Is dead.
While withholding comment on the Bricker
proposal for new coalition party composed
of old-line Republicans and Southern Demo-
Gratis, Senator Taft, on his return to WASH
ington after concluding 13 weeks of barn
storming in Ohio. took occasion to restate
"the basic principles of the Republican
Party"
During his 13 weeks in which Senator
Taft made his report to the people" he
visited rs of the SO counties in the State.
He would have covered them all If Congress
had not continued its sessions long past
Labor Day. causing the Senator to miss some
Of his earlier engagements.
The muddled state of the Taft opposition
is revealed in the fact that IS candidates
for the Democratic senatorial nomination
have cropped up-one for each week Of
Senator Tafts travels. Half a dozen Of
them have announced their candidates. and
the rest are enjoying the publicity.
Here's the list: State Auditor Joseph
Dumping Joe) Ferguson; Edward Lamb,
Toledo attorney backed by the CIO unions;
Murray Lincoln of Farm Bureau Federation
fame, also backed by labor: Representative
McSweeney of Wooster, Mayor Thomas
Burke Of Cleveland, Mayor Michael Di Sale
Of Toledo, who says he will run if Mayor
Burke doesn't; former United States Senator
James W. Huffman of Columbus, William l..
White, Newark businessman, who once ran
for a gubernatorial nomination: William A.
Kelley, Cincinnati attorney; State Senator
Edward Welsh of Dayton; John Martin,
State Highway Department employe: Frazier
Reams of Toledo former head of the State
Welfare Department, and Associate Justice
Charles B. Zimmerman of the State Supreme
Court. Gov. Frank Lausche has definitely
declined to run.
Few of Taft's Stature.
The pickle the Democrats are in arises
from the fact that of the entire array Of
talent mentioned only one or two have either
the stature or the personal following to
tackle Senator Taft. Murray Lincoln, who
seems to fit the bill better than any of the
Others has been a registered Republican
and is meeting the opposition of the regular
Democrats-although ne voted for Mr..
Roosevelt and Mr.. Truman in the last four
or five presidential elections. He is wanted
particularly by labor leaders who believe
Mr.. Lincoln could wean the rural vote away
from Senator Taft to a greater degree than
any other potential Democratic nominee.
Democratic National Chairman William
Boyle is going to Ohio within a short time
ostensibly to talk about organization" But
he will discuss senatorial candidates and
attempt to help bring some order out Of
chaos Candidates for the senatorial nomi-
nations must file by February 2.
The Democrats, believing they will have q
tough time defeating Senator Taft anyway,
are anxious to avoid bitter primary row
If they can Since State Auditor Ferguson has
announced his candidacy and said he will not
withdraw in favor of any one else, and since
Mayor Di Sale of Toledo has said fatty he
will run, too, if Cleveland's Mayor Burke
doesn't, agreement on any one of the cand-
dates seems impossible. Mr.. Ferguson, who
has been auditor for years and has a wide
acquaintance throughout the State, can
make it uncomfortable for any of them in
such race If Mr.. Lincoln is to be nomi-
mated, it looks as though he will have to
stick his neck out and make battle of 1t
in the primary. ~
Unopposed in Party.
Senator Taft has no present opposition
Tor the Republican senatorial nomination
and it would be a surprise if any offers It
would not be effective in any event.
In the gubernatorial contest, which also
takes place IN Ohio next year. the boot is
on the other leg-the Democrats have their
candidate, Gov. Lausche, and the Republi-
cans have yet to settle on candidate.
Among those mentioned for the. COP nomi-
nation are State Treasurer Don Ebright, the
only Republican who survived in t',~ g. -
wide election of 1948; Mayor James v.
Rhodes of Columbus: Edward j. Hu.nrnlI of
Cincinnati, former secretary of State; for
mer Gov Tom Herbert and former It. Gov.
Paul, M. Herbert. From the Republican
point of view, Gov. Lausche looks like
hard man to beat, just as Senator Taft, from
the Democratic point of view, seems a tough
customer.