Evening star., 1950-10-10
The Political Mill
Oregon Due to Return
Morse to Senate Seat
Refusal of Party Funds
Some Aid to Lutourette
By GouId Lincoln


Some Aid to Lutourette
By Gould Lincoln
SEATTLE, Oct 10-The surprising
rejection of Democratic National Com
mittee funds-a check for $2.000-by the
Democratic nominee for the Senate in
Oregon, Howard Latourette has prob
ably no material effect on the outcome
of the election there. Senator Wayne
Morse, Republican, seems destined to be
re-elected-as he was before the Latour-
cite gesture
However, Mr.. Latourette got himself
a million dollars worth of advertising.
His name has probably been read now
by millions of Americans who might
never have heard of him had he just
gone along and taken his defeat as q
run-of-the-mine Oregon Democrat at
the hands of Senator Morse Mr.. Latour-
ette says that he had asked the Demo-
cratic National Committee for $64 900
to help finance his campaign against
Senator Morse, after he had been as
sured the committee would support him.
When he received check for $1,000
which he considered too little as well as
too late-his bitterness spilled over.
Method In Madness.
He wrote letter to Leslie L. Biffle,
secretary of the Senate and Of the
Senatorial Campaign Committee, saying:
1T is apparent certain Administra-
ton advisers prefer to retain political
straddler, who will work both sides Of
the street (Morse), rather than elect a
Senator who believes in honest Govern
ment and Democratic principles free
from Socialistic influences"
There is some method in Mr.. Latour-
ette's apparent madness. His gesture
and his stinging remarks about Senator
Morse. who belongs to the extreme
Liberal wing of the Republican party.
were intended to draw to him conserva-
tive Republicans in Oregon who hate
Senator Morse's insides. But if he gains
some Republican votes, he will Offset
that gain with a loss of Fair Deal
Democrat support.
Senator Morse, who voted against the
Taft-Hartley labor law and on numer-
Gus other occasions has abandoned his
own party line, won election to the upper
house in 1914 by 269 900 votes to 174.000
for his then Democratic opponent. His
Republican colleague, Senator Gordon,
was reelected in 1948 with lead of
100000. Obviously, the Democratic Ma
tional Committee and the Democratic
Senatorial Committee are excusable if
they did not consider that Mr.. Latourette
had a $4,000 chance to win against
Senator Morse and cut the donation to
mere $4,000. They probably figured
Tat the other $4,000 could better be
expended to help defeat Senator Taft,
Republican. in Ohio, or to help elect
Senator Lucas, Democrat, in Illinois.
Mr.. Latourette's outburst is significant
OF one thing, however-the bitter feeling
OF some of the conservative Democrats
against the Truman Fair Dealers. He
has accused Monroe Sweetland, Demo-
cratic National Committeeman for Ore
gon, Of forming a working alliance with
Senator Morse, instead IF with Mr..
Latourette, and he calls himself "a JEFF
fersonian Democrat"
Idaho Conservative Shift.
In this connection. it is not without
interest that the conservative wing of
the Democratic party in Idaho has taken
over-particularly in the elimination of
Senator Glen Taylor. Henry Wallaees
running mate in 1913. For the Senate
seat now held by Mr.. Taylor, the Demo-
Gratis have named former Senator d,
Worth Clark, who is certainly con-
SerVatlve Democrat-one who does not
favor the big spending program of the
Fair Dealers and who has criticized
sharply the policy of the administra-
ton which led to Red China.
In addition, the other top Democratic
candidates in Idaho, for Senator (trey
elect two Senators there this year,, for
Governor and for the House, belong to
the conservative wing Of the party, ex-
cept for Mrs. Oracle Pfost, the nominee
Tor the House In the 1st congressional
district.
How these Democrats in Idaho will
fare on election day remains to be seen.
In their campaigning against Republican
Senator Dworshak, they are accusing
him OF everything. from being anti
labor to supporting the Kremlin. His
Democratic opponent, a 34-year-old pro-
lessor OF social science at Kicks College.
has as one of his cardinal principles
the defense of free enterprise and the
right to own property. Senator Dwor-
shak seems, however, to have an edge at
this writing. though with a hard fight
on his hands.
Mr.. Clark. in the other senatorial con-
test. seems doomed to be defeated by
Herman Welker. Republican, who so far
has been the sparkplug of the partys
campaign in Idaho. Mrs. Pfost is ex-
pected to be elected in the 1st con-
gressional district, and the Republican
nominee, Hamer Bulge, is rated a win
ner in the I'd district. These House
seats are at present held respectively by
Democrat and Republican. If the
Republicans can re-elect Senator Dwor-
shak and elect Mr.. Welker, they will
pick up an additional Senate seat from
the Democrats.
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