Evening star., 1950-10-05
The Political Mill
The Political Mill
RuruI Vote to Determine
Political Fate of Tuft
Senator Moves to Convince
Farmers on His Record 5
By Gould Lincoln

4US pOllClCal 1aLe OF senator ftODSTb
A. Taft Of Ohio-"Mr Republican,
may lie, probably does lie, in the hands
Of Ohio's rural and farm vote. Usually
Republican by q considerable margin.
Ohio farmers let the COP. national
ticket down in 1948. Too many Of
them failed to vote or voted Demo-
cratic. A great deal will depend on
their attitude in the November election.
In consequence. Senator Taft is max
ing q special effort to convince the
farmers he has been their friend during
his two terms in the Senate, and that
the CLOS PAC, which has been attack
ing his farm record, clearly has been
lying.
At the same time, Senator Taft has
raised the issue Of the Truman-sup-
ported Brannan farm plan, which prom
ises the farmers high prices and the
consumers, low prices. "It's q fraud
on its face" the Ohio Senator says.
because 1t says nothing about the taxes
required to pay the difference. Yet
those taxes will have to be paid by
the farmers and the producers" In
addition. Mr.. Taft makes it plain that
under the Brannan plan. the Govern
ment would clamp iron control on the
farmers, and send them to jail II they
violated its regulations.
Plan Originated In CLIO.
Now this Brannan plan Is not popu-
lar with the American Farm Bureau
Federation-or the Ohio Farm Bureau
Federation-one of the strongest farm
organizations in the country. On the
other hand the Brannan plan really
originated with the CIO, and that Or
ganiZation Is Mr.. Taft's most ardent
opponent, and has virtually taken over,
in conjunction with the AFL, the run
ming of the Democratic campaign in
Ohio. with its candidate jumping Joe"
Ferguson, State auditor.
Another complication in the Ohio
Senatorial race lies in the fact that
Murray Lincoln, big voice in the Farm
Bureau Federation and president of the
large insurance companies that organi-
zation runs, is strongly opposed to Sena-
tor Taft. Indeed, Mr.. Lincoln first
wanted Republican nomination to de-
feat Senator Taft in the primary, and
then changed to desire for the Demo-
cratic nomination for Senator. He could
not, however, get any encouragement
from Gov. LauSche, Democrat, and other
prominent Democratic organization lead
ers. His chief adherents were the CIO
and the AFL union leaders They fig
ured that Mr.. Lincoln with his Farm
Bureau background, would give Senator
Taft real beating in November. Mr..
Lincoln would have had to turn over
the hundred million dollar insurance
business Of the Farm Bureau Federation
to some one else, if he had entered the
Senate race. Also Mr.. Ferguson insisted
he would not step aside for MIR. Lincoln
but would contest strongly for the Demo-
cratic nomination. Mr. Lincoln de-
cided not to run. The CIO and other
union bosses have had to jump on the
Ferguson bandwagon. They are doing
as thorough a job in the State as they
possibly can, with unlimited expense
accounts. They have undertaken to line
up the farmers for Mr.. Ferguson.
Charges Series Of Lies.
Senator Taft says emphatically: "The
CIO-PAC is pouring out whole Sc
ries Of lies about my position on va
riouS agricultural bills"f Among them,
he adds, is a '9ie" to the effect he has
opposed Rural Electtrification co-opera-
tives. II have supported REA co-opera-
tives." MIR. Taft insists, lever since !
have been in the Senate" He says too,
that he last year secured an amend
ment to the farm bill to help the Ohio
Farm Bureau secure loans for the con-
struction Of modern cooperative eleva-
tors to take the place Of the Govern
ment's steel storage bins which now
dot the Ohio landscape and in which
Ohio corn and wheat will almost Ger
tainly spoil"
Many gloomy reports on Senator
Taft's prospects for reelection are COM
ing out Of Ohio. Observers have been
impressed with the strenuous campaign
ing OF labor union leaders It may be
we'll to remember, however, that the
Democratic party itself is not solidly
supporting the bid of Mr.. Ferguson
and that such important figures in the
party as Gov. Lausche and Mayor Tom
Burke of Cleveland have said nothing
in support Of Mr.. Ferguson. Unless the
CIO can make real dents in the Re-
publican farm vote, and among the ru-
raj town voters, all its efforts may prove
unavailing. The Republicans are losing
no time, either. trying to get this rural
vote for Senator Taft to the polls on
election day.
Huee&sen. -sI A~..>