Evening star., 1950-03-11
The Political Mill
Iowa Race to Speorheod
Brunnun Farm Plan Drive
Administration Puts LoveIund
In Senate Primary Bottle
By Gould Lincoln

BY Gould Lincoln
The administration has decided to
make Iowa major testing ground for
the Brannan farm plan-aS a political
issue. 1t has thrown into the Democratic
senatorial primary the Undersecretary of
Agriculture, Albert j. Loveland, right
hand man of Secretary of Agriculture
Brannan. on the theory that Mr.. Love-
land will make the strongest candidate
the Democrats can put forward.
Mr.. Loveland will be recognized as
the Brannan candidate, and indeed. the
candidate of the administration, in a
race with five other Democrats who
have already announced their intention
Of seeking the senatorial nomination.
The main test of the Brannan plan
before the voters of Iowa, however. will
come in November if Mr.. Loveland wins
the nomination. He will be in race then
with Senator Hickenlooper, Republican,
who is opposed to the Brannan plan or
with another Republican, should Mr..
Hickenlooper be defeated for renomina-
tion.
Senator Gillette a Factor.
How the Democrats of Iowa will take
the entry of the administration into
this primary fight remains to be seen.
Back in 1888, when the Roosevelt ad-
ministration undertook to dictate
Democratic senatorial nomination Ito
purge" Senator Gillette because he had
opposed President Roosevelt's Supreme
Court packing bilD. the Iowa Democrats
kicked over the traces and renominated
Mr.. Gillette by a substantial vote The
Roosevelt administration, through the
late Harry Hopkins, gave its support to
former Representative Otho Wearin. AS
it happens, Mr.. Wearin is again candi-
date for the Democratic senatorial nomi-
nation this year. Among the other can
didates is Jean Poston, member Of the
State Legislature, who like Mr.. Wearin,
will have considerable following In the
primary.
Under the State law, candidate must
receive at least 35 per cent of the vote
cast to be nominated. If six Democrats
remain in the field, Mr. Loveland might
have difficulty. However, the administra-
tion is confident it can put him across.
The issue of the Loveland candidacy
is further complicated by the fact that
Senator Gillette, political power in the
State, has no love for the Brannan plan,
and has said so. Nor has Mr.. Gillette
any reason to feel kindly toward the ad-
ministration, since President Truman
virtually slapped him in the face by ap-
pointing Carroll O. Switzer to be a Fed
eral district judge for the southern dis
trict of Iowa, over Mr.. Gillette's vigorous
protest. Judge Switzer is serving under
recess appointment-he has never been
confirmed by the Senate and there is
serious doubt he will be. Senator Gillette
says he will take no part in the coming
Democratic senatorial primary. 1t does
not look, however, as though he would
be cheering for Mr.. Loveland.
Republicans Working Hard.
On the Republican side of the pic.
ture, Senator Hickenlooper, former
Governor, is opposed by Earl Wisdom,
secretary of the REA associations and an
attorney in Des Moines, and Harry Bruce
Thompson of Muscatine. Mr. Hicken-
looper's friends say that the Senator will
undoubtedly be renominated, and that he
will win reelection in November. Under
the leadership of a new State chairman,
Robert Goodwin of Redfeld, the Re-
publican organization is working hard
and with enthusiasm to put the State
back in the Republican column. In the
presidential election in 1913, when Mr..
Truman carried the State. the Republic
can voters stayed home in droves.
The Democrats figure that Senator
Hickenlooper will be vulnerable because
of his failure last year to substantiate his
charges against David Lilienthal, whom
he accused of incredible mismanage-
ment" as chairman of the Atomic Energy
Commission. Also they are counting
on the Brannan plan to get them
large farm vote They say that
the plan, which contemplates production
payments to farmers is gaining among
the rank and file because farm prices
are faltering and surpluses of crops are
mounting.
The American Farm Bureau Fedora
ton. however, through its officers, has
come out strongly against the Brannan
plan. The federation has 100000 Iowa
farm families in its membership, and it
is working hard to convince them the
Brannan plan would turn out slave
farm law" since it would give the Wash
ington government absolute control over
the farmers.
The Iowa senatorial race becomes the
spearhead, therefore, Of the administra-
tion's drive for the Brannan plan. But
the all-out effort is likely to come in the
national election of 1852.