Evening star., 1950-08-24
The Political MN IT,
Lines Drown in Fight
For Control of Senate
Republican Leaders Warn
Aquinst Oxerconfidence
By Gould Lincoln

control of the Senate have been almost
completely drawn, Notwithstanding the
fact that nominations for Senator still
have to be made in 10 States. some of
which may be considered critical. The
Republicans are feeling greatly encour-
aged-but they are doing all they can
to eradicate any feeling of over conf
dence. either among the party leaders
or the rank and file voters. They do
not want to have another 1948 f1asco.
Senatorial candidates are still to be
nominated in six States where victory
could go either to the Republicans or the
Democrats in four States which in
recent years have been either strongly
Republican or strongly Democratic. The
six which may be regarded as critical"
in the effect they have on Senate con-
troll are New York, Utah, Maryland,
Washington, Colorado and Wisconsin.
New Hampshire and Vermont are re-
garded as sure Republican, and Rhode
Island and Nevada as sure Democrat.
How Parties Divide. -.
The present party division in the
Senate is 81 Democrats and 40 Repub-.
licans. To win a bare majority, the
Republicans must pick up seven seats
and lose none, or pick up eight seats and
lose one. etc. They must have net
gain OF seven to control.
Thirty-six Senate seats are at stake
in the November elections, % now held
by Democrats and 13 by Republicans.
The Republicans expect to gain in
California, where Mrs. Helen Gahagan
Douglas is running against Representa-
tive Nixon, Republican,; in Connecticut;
where Prescott Bush, Republican, is
running against Senator Benton, Demo-
crat. and former Representative Talbot,
Republican, is running against Senator
Mcmahon. Democrat. in Idaho, where
two Republicans, including one incum-
bent, Senator Dworshak, are running;
in Illinois, where former Representative
Dlrksen. Republican, is opposing Demo-
cratic Majority Leader Lucas; in Penn
sylvania, where Gov. Duff, Republican,
is opposing Senator Myers, Democrat;
in Utah, where Senator Thomas, Demo-
crat, is said to be in political difficulties.
They feel they have fair chances, too, to
win in New York against Democratic
Senator Lehman; in Washington, against
Democratic Senator Magnuson. They
give themselves outside chances, too, in
Maryland and Oklahoma, where Senator
Tydings and Representative Mike Mon
roney are to be the Democratic nominees.
Democrats are conceding none of
these contests, however, although of the
record they are decidedly fearful of
what may happen in four or five of these
States. For themselves, the Democrats
insist they have good chances to win
Republican seats now held by Senators
Capehart of Indiana, Donnel of Mis-
souri,, Millikin of Colorado and Wiley Of
Wisconsin. They also are speaking
hopefully of winning seats held by Re-
publican Senators Taft of Ohio and
Hickenlooper of Iowa.
G. o. p. Chances Brighter.
The chances of Republican victory
seem to have frightened perceptibly in
the last two monthS-due to the failure
of the Democratic administration to
make peace, to the outbreak Of the war
in Korea and our involvement in it, to
approaching high taxes and cramping
controls The Republicans will have a
tough battle, however, to retain the seat
now held by Senator Donnell of Missouri
because of the fact that President Tru-
mans candidate, Allison, was defeated
by former Representative Hennings. Mr..
Hennings is the kind of candidate the
old line Democrats in Missouri can go
for strongly-he is anti-Fair Deal-and
Mr.. Truman and his followers will have
to support him as the party nominee.
The war in Korea and the feeling ID
has aroused in the Midwest against
the Democrats will probably assure SEN
ator Capehart's reelection, blasting
Democratic hopes in Indiana. It also
will make it increasingly difficult for
Senator Lucas, Democrat. to win in
Illinois. The Democrats may be able to
break even with the Republicans in
Connecticut, holding the Mcmahon seat
and losing the Benton seat. But that
is by no means sure.
At present the Republicans seem
reasonably sure to make material gains
in the Senate-and also in the House.
Whether they can win an actual majority
in either house. however, is another
question. The G. o. P. will put forth
particular effort to gain Senate con-
troll this year-if for no other reason
than that in 1852 20 Republican seats
will be at stake and only IL Demo-
cratic, and material Republican gains
would be difficult.