Evening star., 1950-08-05
The Political Mil
Harry Byrd Democrat
Seen Missouri Victor
Vote for Allison in Primary
Blow to Trumun Prestige
By Gould Lincoln

A Harry Byrd-type Democrat has won
the senatorial nomination over President
Truman's handpicked candidate, State
Senator Emery w. Allison of Rolla. The
victor, former Representative Thomas
C. Hemings, jr., Of st. Louis, has no use
for such main items in the Truman Fair
Deal program as repeal Of the Taft
Hartley Act, compulsory health insur-
ance or the Brannan farm plan.
Nevertheless, Democratic National
Chairman william Boyle, jr., will be
quick to send Mr.. Hennings telegram.
assuring him Of complete support in the
general election campaign against Sena-
tor Donnell, who was Overwhelmingly
renominated by the Republicans. The
aim of Mr.. Boyle-a Missouri Democrat
will be to heal the party breach as quickly
as possible and present united front
against Mr.. Donnell, former Republican
Governor, and tough opponent for any
Democrat.
The Hennings victory will be severe jolt
for Mr.. Trumans prestige. The President
had gone all-out for Mr.. Allison after
agreeing on him at secret conference
in Kansas City with Democratic leaders.
The President also gave him his bless
ing at press conference here in Wash
ington and later in speech in Missouri.
Didn't Have to Pick Sides.
Mr.. Truman did not have to pick Mr..
Allison, or even take sides in the Demo-
cratic primary-but he did. Missouri
Democrats being an independent breed.
did not take kindly to outside pressure,
even from a President of the United
States who happened to be MiSsourian.
Also the st. Louis Democratic organiza-
ton, backing Mr.. Hennings, did an i'm
pressive job, getting out the vote and
rolling up a $4,000 lead for their man.
A fight against a new city charter, not
desired by the politicians, helped to
bring the voters to the polls, too. in st.
Louis.
Though Mr.. Truman failed to pull
his candidate for the Senate through
in his own home State, he was sue
cessful in licking Democratic National
Committeeman Carl C. Rice of Kansas
in his race for the democratic sena-
torial nomination in that State.
The President was for Paul Aiken.
former Assistant Postmaster General,
who won handily. Mr.. Rice headed the
Kansas delegation to the Democratic
National Convention in 1944-and the
Kansas delegation was out, wrangling
over whether to vote as a unit for Mr..
Truman for Vice President at the time
the nomination was cinched. Mr.. Rice
who supported Henry Wallace for the
vice presidential nomination-was try
ing to persuade his delegation to go
along with him. Mr.. Truman has had
no use for Mr.. Rice at all since then.
Gains proSfiOn
Senator Harry Darby, Republican ma
tional committeeman for Kansas, stands
at the top of the political heap in his
State as a result of the Tuesday pri-
maries. His candidates for Governor
and Senator, Edward K. Arm and Gov.
Frank Carlson, both won clean-cut vic
tories over Willard Mayberry and Harry
w. Colmery, supported by former Gov.
Alf Landon, seeking to regain control
of the Republican organization in
Kansas.
While the Republicans may have a
difficult time re-electing Senator Don
nell in Missouri next November. they
do not expect any trouble at all electing
their gubernatorial and senatorial can
didates in Kansas.
Rush D. Holt who came to the Senate
from West Virginia as a boy-wonder
Democrat back in 1935-he was only 29
at the time of his election and had to
wait months before he could qualify
has been nominated as Republican for
the House in the Sd congressional dis
trict. During his service in the Senate,
Mr. Holt turned against the New Deal.
He was defeated later both in campaigns
for the Senate and for Governor. He
succeeded, however, in winning a place
in the State Legislature. Mr.. Holt will
oppose Representative Baily, Democrat,
who was easily renominated.