Evening star., 1949-09-06
The Political Mil
Democrats Want Lousche
To Oppose Senator Taft
Ohio Governor Disinclined to Run
Political Stakes Called High
By Gould Lincoln

BY GONld Lincoln
The $64 question in Ohio today Is: Who's
to be the Democratic candidate against
Senator Robert A. Taft next year?
There seems no doubt that President
Truman, who has much at stake in this
effort to eliminate the Republican senator
ial leader, would like to have Gov. Frank
Lausche as the party nominee for Senator.
The Ohio Governor, however, has 50 far
backed away. He has told friends he will
not rum it is reported. What he would do
next year If presidential pressure is brought
to bear to get him into the contest remains
to be seen. But at present his intention
appears to be to run again for Governor.
The stakes are high-for Gov. Lausche.
for Senator Taft, and for President Truman
In this senatorial race. The Governor has
his eye on the Democratic national ticket
in 1952-either for first or second place.
If he could defeat Senator Taft, as kind
Of Democratic Jack the Giant Killer he
would hold strategic position. On the other
hand, should he go down in the race against
the Republican Senator, his political goose
would be we'll cooked. For as candidate
against Senator Taft, Gov. Lausche would
have the all-out support Of the CIO and the
AFL. not to mention the Democratic organ
ization. If he could not win with all that
backing, there would be no chance of the
Democrats turning to him for place on
the national ticket two years later. AS
candidate for reelection as Governor, how
ever, Gov. Lausche would have an excellent
chance unless conditions change drastically
for the worse before election.
If Senator Taft wins, he will certainly be
in line for Republican presidential nominal
tion.
One announced candidate for the Demo-
cratic senatorial nomination has raised his
head-Joseph Ferguson, State auditor. Prob
ably he recalls that another State auditor
in Ohio-"Honest Vic" Donahey-became
both Democratic Governor and Demo-
cratic Senator. The candidacy of Mr.. Fer
guson, however, has raised no great en-
thusiaSm up to date.
A movement has been started in some
quarters to run Murray D. Lincoln executive
secretary Of the Ohio Farm Bureau Fed
Grafton and head of number of that power
full organizations activities, against Senator
Taft. MIR. Lincoln in the past has been
Republican and is still so listed in the
latest who's Who in America" But sug-
gestionS have been made to him that he
become the Democratic candidate for the
Senate against MIR. Taft. The Democrats
believe that Mr.. Lincoln would be drawing
card among the Ohio farmers and that they
could line up the industrial workers pretty
solidly for him. through the support Of the
C1O and the AFL.
Native of Massachusetts,.
Mr.. Lincoln was born in Massachusetts,
and did not move to Ohio until 1917, when
he became the agricultural agent for the
Society for Savings Bank, in Cleveland.
He is graduate Of the Massachusetts, Agri-
cultural College at Amherst. # he decides
to make bid for the Democratic senatorial
nomination next year he may face op-
position from old line and organization DEM
ocrats, who do not like the idea OF taking
q candidate from Republican ranks. In
the first instance, too, MIR. Lincoln Is re-
ported to have thought seriously Of opposing
Senator Taft in the Republican primary.
+ Finding an outstanding Democrat In Ohio
to run against Senator Taft is no easy task.
No Democrat of great ability has come to the
fore in the Buckeye State in recent years
except, perhaps, Gov. Iausche. Senator
Taft, on the other hand, either will have no
opposition In the primary or. If any Re-
publican offers against him. will win easily.
The Ohio Senator Is nothing not
thorough. He has begun already an inten-
sive campaign to win reelection. He hopes
before snow flies to visit every county in
the State. He has already covered part
Of the area around and in Cleveland. Later
Mrs. Taft, an able campaigner. will join the
Senator in his travels through the State.
Together, the Tafts have been unbeatable In
previous campaigns.