Evening star., 1950-04-13
The Political Mil
Republican Party Takes
On New Look in illinois
Ticket Is Headed by Dirksen.
Noted os Able Compoiener
By Gould Lincoln

The Republican Party in Illinois IL
taking on new look" Its congress
sional ticket, nominated in last Tuesdays
primary, is headed by Everett NJ. Dirk
sen. candidate for the Senate, to run
against Senator Scott Lucas, majority
leader Of the upper house.
Gone from the picture-at least tenn
porarily-are former Governor Frank
Green and former Senator Curly
Brooks, who have been key pins in the
COP organization. They both took q
tremendous licking in the l94S elections:
the first, at the hands of Governor Adlai
E. Stevenson, and the second, at the
hands of Senator Paul Douglas. Demo-
Gratis.
How deep the change in the COP
may go remains to be seen. This much.
however, is a fact. In past years Mr..
Dirksen has knocked at the door for a
senatorial nomination-he served Is
years in the House with distinguished
record-and never could get the back
ing Of the Republican organization. He
became a candidate for the presidential
nomination. but never could get recog-
milton as 'favorite son" candidate. A
change set in last year.
Man of Independent Ideas.
Old timers in the organization came
to the conclusion that, If the Republican
Party was to get back on its feet fairly
quickly in Illinois. there must be q re-
shuttle. Mr.. Dirksen himself did not let
the grass grow under his feet and
began campaigning all over the State
in readiness for his bid for the Senate
this year.
When Mr.. Dirksen left the House two
years ago 1t was because of an eye all
ment. He announced it would not be
fair to his constituents to seek re-elec-
ton. Since then. however, he has re-
covered entirely and will undoubtedly
show himself as an indefatigable cam
paigner next summer and fall.
During his service in the House. Mr..
Dirksen proved himself a man Of indie
pendent ideas. His votes were for In
ternational co-operation-in those days
this was anathema to Col. Robert Nc
Cormick, publisher of the Chicago Tri-
bune and power behind the throne
in the Republican Party. Last year, Mr..
Dirksen became convinced that the
United States was in a fair way to
bankrupt itself If it continued to pour
billions of dollars into the rebuilding OF
Europe and other parts of the world
and should watch its step. He did
not become an isolationist in the proper
sense of that term-but his opposition
began at once to criticize him as
backslider. According to reports. he and
Col. Mccormick became more friendly
and by last fall. it was agreed by
practically all of the Republican lead
ers that Mr.. Dirksen was to be the
party's choice for senator.
COP Must Regain Ground.
The DirkSen-Lucas battle will be fol-
lowed with interest. Not only Is Mr..
Lucas the Administrations leader in
the Senate, but failure to carry IL
linois, the third most populous state in
the Union-umless California should be
shown to surpass her in the new census
would be a sad blow to the Fair Deal
ers. And conversely, the Republicans
feel 1t essential for them to regain
ground in that State which they lost
in l948. President Truman carried the
State by about $4,000 votes-a narrow
margin in a turnout of nearly mil
lion voters. The Republicans elected II
members of the House to IL for the
Democrats.
Both Senator Lucas and Mr.. Dirksen
are from "downstate", which means out
side Of Cook County (Chicago). 1t IS
in the downstate area that the Republic
cans roll up their votes. Much will de-
pend, therefore, on how strongly Sena-
tor Lucas cuts into the downstate vote.
If he gets a material vote downstate
and holds to the usual big Democratic
majority in Chicago. it's going to be
tough for Mr.. Dirksen to win.
Senator Lucas. like Mr.. Dirksen. Is
good campaigner. He leaped into the
limelight back in 1887 when he at
tackled in the House the Supreme Court
packing bill of the late President Frank
lin D. Roosevelt. Since that time, he
has had support of some OF the Re-
publicans when he was running for the
Senate. His first and successful try for
the upper house was in 1888. He was
renominated Tuesday without opposltion.
Mr.. Dirksen. too. had no real opposition.
although two other candidates were In
the primary.