Evening star., 1949-09-01
Democrats Expect to Gain
Senate Seat in Missouri
Symineton May Be Brought Out
As an Attractive Candidate
The Political Mill
Bv Gould Lincoln

Symln&tOn May Be Brought Out
As an Attractive Candidate
BY Gould Lincoln
The Truman Democrats look on Missouri
as happy hunting ground in the coming
1850 congressional elections. They con-
hdently expect to pick up Senate seat
now held by Senator Forrest c. Donnell.
Republican. They point with pride to the
fact that President Truman ran 262 900
votes ahead Of Gov. Dewey of New York in
Missouri last year, and that the Democrats
made clean sweep in the House races
except for Republican Dewey Short. How,
they ask. can the Republicans have any hope
to win In the Presidents home State. Also
some Of them have up their sleeves an
attractive candidate for the Democratic
senatorial nomination Secretary Of the Air
Force w. Stuart Symington-to be produced
at the right time
The fact that Senator Donnell Il . re-
markable campaigner; that he was elected
Governor in 1940-a Roosevelt year-and
that he won election to the Senate In 1914,
another Roosevelt year. might naturally give
the Democrats pause in excessive claims of
victory next year. But Senator Donnell won
his Senate election by only 1893 votes.
after a bitter Democratic primary fight in
which Bennett Champ Clark, then Senator
District of Columbia, had been defeated for
denomination.
Fighting Campaign Possible.
Much may depend upon whether the Mis-
souri, Democrats engage In another fighting
campaign for the senatorial nomination.
Others beside Mr.. Symington have been
mentioned as probable candidates. among
them former Gov. Phil M. Donnelly, Frank
Reagan, st. Louis attorney, and former
Representative Thomas c. Hennings, who
has been Endorsed for the nomination at
meeting of some of the Democratic Com
mittee Of st. Louis. There is talk that some
of the Democrats fear the labor record of
former Gov. Donnelly and do not want him
on that account.
One thing appears certain-Mr. Truman
will go all out to elect a Democratic Sem
ator in his own home State next year. His
own nod might give the nomination to Mr..
Symngton. if he nodded. The 48-year-old
Secretary of the Air Force was success
full businessman before he joined the Gov
ernment in Washington. He is Son-in-law
Of Representative James w. Wadsworth of
New York, Republican, who at one time was
himself a member of the Senate.
Like Senator Taft and other Republican
Senators who are up for reelection next
year in States where the battle may be
tough, Senator Donnell is going to hot foot
it out home as soon as his duties here per-
NIT this fall. He will travel all over the
State meeting the people. Missouri has two
Republican Senators, and the COP does
not give up hope easily Senator KEN, Re-
publican, was elected in 1916.
Thirty two Seats Up for Election.
Thirteen Republicans and 10 Democrats in
the Senate come up for election next year.
of ho iS rofo n1,1lo ~
New York. appointed by Gov. Dewey to fill
a vacancy caused by the resignation Of
Senator Wagner, Democrat, because of i'll
health. This seat will be fought for at
special election next November and could be
carried by Democrat. OF the 13 Repub-
lican seats, seven are regarded as sure for
the COP and six as in possible danger.
The sure seats are in Vermont, South Da-
kota. Oregon, Kansas, New Hampshire, Wis
consin and North Dakota. All of these
States except Wisconsin were carried by Gov
Dewey last fall. The Democrats claim they
have good chances to elect their senatorial
candidates in several of these States, par
ticularly Wisconsin and New Hampshire.
The six States in which Republican sena-
torial seats are In danger are Indiana, Mis-
souri,, New York. Iowa, Colorado and Ohio.
Ten Of the Democratic seats are regarded as
sure Democratic in the coming elections and
nine of them in danger. The "sure" seats
are in Arkansas, Georgia, Arizona, Alabama,
North. Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana.
Florida, Oklahoma and Maryland. Maryland
is the only one Of these States which went
Republican last year.
Democratic Senate seats which might be
in danger are in California, Illinois. Nevada.
Connecticut. Washington, Pennsylvania.
Idaho, Utah and Kentucky. The first of
the year, Senator Baldwin of Connecticut.
Republican. retires from the Senate to be-
come a judge and Democrat will be ap-
pointed to succeed him. That will make two
Democratic seats in Connecticut to be fought
over.
The Senate campaign is getting under way
right now-earlier than usual. Senator Taft.
for example, is leaving Washington the end
of this week to begin tour of every county
in his State-to be concluded by Christmas.
The issues involved in next years election
are of tremendous Importance. One Of them
is whether labor Is to resume it's dominance.
and another, how far is the country to go
toward the welfare state"