Evening star., 1950-09-26
BorkIey Trip to Hastings
Sets Off-Yeur Precedent
Threat to Party Control
In Senute Behind Move
The Political MW
By Gould Lincoln

.r.t ny SOuIo Lincoln
No President or Vice President has
gone transforming in Congressional
election campaign-until Vice-President
Barkley received the assignment recently
and like good soldier accepted. Presi-
dent Truman himself had promised to
get out on the hustings, with q swing
across the country. Indeed, last spring,
he travelled out to the Pacific Coast,
laying the groundwork for an intensive
campaign trip this fall. The war in
Korea is given now as a reason for
abandoning this plan. In 1946, the last
congressional campaign without presi-
Dental election at the same time), there
was no trip by President Trumans al
though frequently promised - and in
that year there was no Vice-President
to send. Mr.. Truman's trips were given
up that year because Democratic leaders
and candidates in various States felt
they would be better off without hint
was his year of unpopularity.
The late President Franklin D. Roose-
velt's Vice-Presidents, successfully John
Garner and Henry Wallace. were not
used to stump the country in 1884, 1888,
and 1912, during the congressional CAM
paigns. President Roosevelt himself, In
1888, took the stump in primary elections
to purge" some of the Democratic Sena-
tors who had opposed his Supreme Court
packing bill, among them George Of
Georgia and Tydings Of Maryland, but
met with no success.
Threat to Control Seen.
In still earlier days-the horse and
buggy days-Presidents and Vice-Presi-
dents did not tour the country in strictly
congressional campaigns-but left to the
State party leaders and candidates
themselves the burden of such cam
paigns. Now. however. the Democratic
national organization. headed by Presi-
dent Truman and his national chairman,
William M. Boyle, jr, takes the view
that the people of Texas, for example.
are just as much interested in the elec-
ton Of Senator in Ohio as are the
people Of Ohio. Hence the Barkley trip,
which is to begin October 5 and take
him into the States of Iowa. Wisconsin,
Idaho, Washington, California, Utah.
Colorado, Illinois. Indiana, Ohio, Penn
sylvania, New York, Connecticut and
Kentucky, in all of which important
senatorial races are being run, as well
as elections for the House.
The threat to Democratic control Of
have been recognized. For example, Mr..
Barkley is to seek the defeat of Republi-
can Senator Taft in Ohio. and the defeat
of Republican Senators Wiley in Wiscon-
sin, Millikin in Colorado and Capehart
in Indiana. He is to bolster the chances
of Democratic Senators Myers in Penn
sylvania, Lucas in Illinois, Thomas in
Utah, Lehman in New York, and Nc
Mahon and Benton in Connecticut.
Although the tour is strenuous and will
keep Vice-President Barkley travelling
and talking for a full month, other
States may be added to his itinerary
perhaps Oklahoma, where Representative
Mike Monroney, who won the Demo-
cratic senatorial nomination from vet
eran Senator Elmer Thomas, now is
engaged in a brisk campaign against
Republican Flying ParSon" Bill Alex
ander. If that race should appear later
to be really close, Mr.. Barkley, who Is
recognized as the Democrats most popu-
lar campaigner, may be rushed there.
Ohio Talks Waited.
In view of the vituperation which has
been heaped upon Senator Taft by the
labor bosses and administration spokes-
men, it will be of interest to see how
Mr.. Barkley handles the senatorial CAM
paign in Ohio. The Kentucky Vice
President has been on friendly terms
personally with Senator Taft. During
the Republican-controlled 80th Congress.
Taft, as the G. o. P. leader, and Barkley,
as the Democratic leader, learned to
respect the ability and integrity of each
other. The abuse of Senator Taft does
not seem in character with Mr.. Barkley.
However, the Vice President will not fail
to bear down heavily in his criticism Of
the legislation and policies for which the
Ohioan has stood.
Senator Taft, whose chances for re-
election appear to ebb and flow as the
weeks pass, had at least three good
breaks last week. First, Averell Hartman,
sent to Texas by the President for the
purpose, attacked Mr.. Taft at the AFL
convention on the ground that Senator
Taft's stand had been helpful to the
Russian Communists This will be diff
cult to swallow. Second, John L. Lewis,
president of the United Mine Workers,
urged that if Senator Taft went into the
coal mines of Ohio to campaign, the
miners SnOulQ SCage d WdlkOuG. 4uuOs
at the Ohio Democratic State Convention
in Columbus. Governor Frank L. Lausche.
candidate to succeed himself, in his ad-
dress to the convention made no men,
ton whatever of State Auditor Joe Fer
guson, Taft's Democratic opponent, al
though Mr.. Ferguson sat on the platform
beside him. Nor did Mayor Thomas Burke
of Cleveland, who introduced the Cover
nor, mention the Democratic nominee
for Senator. The implication was that
neither of these important Democratic
leaders was going to line up with Fergu-
son. It is well understood that Governor
Lausche has respect for Senator Taft's
abilities-and none for Mr.. Ferguson's.