Evening star., 1950-02-11
The Political Mil
House Members to Seek
Senate Seats Next Fall
Score of Present and Past
Representatives May Run
BY Gould Lincoln

By Gould Lincoln
A considerable group of House mem
bers are looking hopefully to the ap-
preaching nominating primaries and con-
ventions, with an eye cooked toward the
Senate. Indeed, some of them have al
ready announced their candidacy for the
upper house. Mrs Helen Gahagan Doug
las of California is seeking the Dem
ocratic senatorial nomination against
Senator Downey, also a Democrat, and
Democratic Representative Smathers Of
Florida will try to unhorse the redoubt-
able Senator Pepper. These are merely
samples however, for probably score of
House members and former members will
get into the Senate primaries this year.
In California, second House member,
Richard M. Nixon, Republican, is going
after the Downey seat. 1t is expected he
will oppose the Democratic nominee in
the general election, whether it be Mrs.
Douglas or Senator DoWney. All three,
under the California practice of cross
filing will seek both the Republican and
Democratic nominations.
Mrs. Douglas has been a member of
the House for three terms an ardent
New Dealer and Fair Dealer. Mr.. Nixon
on the other hand, is just as strong in his
support of Republican policies. He has
been a member of the House Un- Amer
ican Activities Committee and points to
the fact that this committee first turned
up the case against Alger Hiss, who has
been convicted of perjury regarding his
association with Communists.
Tough Nut to Crack.
Senator Downey may prove tough nut
for either of the House members to crack.
He is completing his second six-year
term in the Senate, to which he was first
elected with the backing of the Town
send old-age pension group. He still has
their support.
Out in Colorado, Democratic Repre-
sentative Carroll is planning to make the
race against Senator Millikin, Repub-
lican. Senator Millikin has earned q
place of Importance among his Repub-
ican asSociates-he is chairman of the
Republican Conference of the Senate
and also in the Senate itself. Mr.. Carroll
is bristling liberal. Fair Dealer from
the word "go."
Connecticut, one of the principal bat
tie grounds this year in the congressional
elections because it must elect two Sem
ators as well as it's full quota OF Repre-
sentatives, usually does not make its
nominations for the Senate until Septem-
ber in party conventions. Some of the
Republican leaders, however, have sug-
gested that the COP convention be
advanced this year and held in June or
July. There are two reasons for this.
The Republicans want to get in early
and make strenuous campaign, which
cannot be done until the nominations
are out of the way, and they also believe
that an early decision on the party ticket
may avoid serious differences growing
out of personal ambitions.
The most recent report is that former
Representative Clare Boothe Luce, Re-
publican, is still in the picture as a pos
sible senatorial nominee. Two sitting
Republican House members also are ve-y
much in the picture, Representatives
John Davis Lodge. brother of Senator
Lodge of Massachusetts,, and James T.
Patterson, both war veterans. Two norni-
nations must be made for the Senate by
the Republicans to run against Senators
Mcmahon and Benton. Senator Benton
is serving under appointment of Gov.
Bowles. Democrat who will seek re-elec-
tion, too. Mrs Luce's husband. Henry
Luce, publisher of Time and Life, has
declined to become a senatorial candi-
date-but still sees his wife as a possible
candidate. If Mrs. Luce runs, it is UNDER
stood she will seek the nomination for
the full term against Senator Mcmahon,
who has been much in the limelight as
chairman of the Joint Atomic Energy
Commission.
Dirksen Seeks Lucas Seat.
A former member of the House, Everett
Mckinley Dirksen, Republican, is seeking
the nomination for the Senate against
Senator Scott Lucas of Illinois. Demo-
cratic leader of the upper house. Both
are expected to be nominated in the
primary April 1.-THE first primary to
be staged this year,
Representative Jacobs of Indiana is a
likely Democratic nominee against Sem
ator Capehart in Indiana, and former
Representative Otho D. Wearin, Demo-
crat, may oppose Senator Hickenlooper
in Iowa. Other House members who
may get in the Senate races include
Representatives Monroney of Oklahoma.
Democrat: Biemiller of Wisconsin, DEM
ocrat; Kunkel of Pennsylvania, Repub-
lican: Sanborn of Idaho. Republican,
and Compton I. White of Idaho, Demo-
crat. Idaho, like Connecticut and North
Carolina, elects two Senators next Mo-
vember. Henry Wallaces running mate
on the Progressive ticket in 1948, Sena-
tor Taylor, Democrat, is up for re-elec-
ton, and Senator Dworshak. Republic
can. serving under appointment to fill
a vacancy, must run too.