Evening star., 1951-12-01
The Political Mil
SuItonstoII Held Likely
Successor to Wherry
Republicans May Follow
Precedent in Choice
The Political Min
By Gould Lincoln

If the Republicans of the Senate fol-
low precedent in their selection of a sue
cessor to the late Senator Wherry of Ne
braska as party floor leader, they will
pick Senator Saltonstall of Massachu-
sets. Senator Saltonstall is the Republi-
can whip of the Senate, and in the
absence Of Senator Wherry during the
last session, served as acting floor leader.
Senator Wherry was Republican whip
before he succeeded former Senator
White of Maine, who voluntarily decided
not to run for reelection to the Senate
in 1948
Senator White, in turn, had acted as
Republican floor leader when the late
Senator McNary of Oregon. then floor
leader, was i'll. and succeeded Senator
McNary as leader. He had been picked
by Senator McNary to serve as acting
leader.
Senator Saltonstall however, while
not violent partisan, has been aligned
with the so-called progressive group of
Republicans in the upper house His
election as party whip in 1949 was a
sop to the group, when Senator Taft
had been reelected as chairman of
the Republican Policy Committee lover
Senator Lodge of Massachusetts, and
Senator Millikin of Colorado had been
chosen chairman of the Republican
conference. and Senator Wherry, elected
floor leader
Seniority Carries Weight.
The question of seniority has not
governed always in the selection of a
Republican floor leader. although it may
have weight. There were half a dozen
Republican Senators-in addition to
Taft and Millikin-of longer service
than Senator Wherry when the Ne
braSka Senator became floor leader.
Saltonstall was first elected Senator in
1914, to fill the unexpired term of Sena-
tor Lodge who had resigned to serve in
the Army. He was reelected in 1948.
Presidential politics could easily mix
in the selection of new Republican
floor leader of the Senate. Saltonstall
has declared his support Of Gen. Dwight
D. Eisenhower for the Republican NOM
ination next year. Moreover, he has not
seen eye to eye with Senator Taft on
foreign policy The Ohio Senator's
friends, who are anxious to have Taft
nominated for President, are inclined to
look askance at the selection of Re-
publican floor leader who does not go
along with Mr.. Taft in these matters.
Should Taft be elected President, he
would have to deal with the Republican
floor leader Of the Senate. That, how
ever, does not seem an insurmountable
matter. for Saltonstall is a man of the
highest caliber. The fly in the ointment
would be the immediate advantage which
might accrue to the Eisenhower forces if
an Eisenhower supporter became the
Republican floor leader.
Among those of longer service who
might get in the race for the floor lead
ership are Senator Bridges of New
Hampshire, Senator Brewster of Maine
and Senator Ferguson of Michigan.
Brewster is an ardent Taft supporter.
Another Republican who is mentioned
as possible selection is Senator Know
land of California, who entered the Sen
ate at the same time with Saltonstall.
Knowland is boosting Gov. Warren of
California for the presidential nomina-
ton.
Taft Keeping Hands OFF.
Senator Taft for the time being IS
keeping hands off in the coming strug-
gle-if there is to be a struggle-for
Republlcan moor leader OF the Senate.
The final decision will not be made until
the Republican Senators gather just be-
fore the opening of the new session Of
Congress in January. While it does not
seem likely, there is the possibility that
the matter of floor leader may be al
lowed to drift, with Saltonstall continu-
ing to act as floor leader, rather than to
engage in knockdown drag-out fight
Or Taft could settle the matter by say
ing he had no objection to Saltonstall.
The selection of new Senator from
Nebraska remains in the hands of Gov.
Val Peterson. He himself has announced
he will be candidate in the April sena-
torial primary against Senator Butler.
And it is reported Gov. Peterson has said
in the past he would not resign as Gov
ernor to have himself appointed Sena-
tor. From practical point of view how
ever. it would be far easier for Peterson
to take the Wherry seat, and then run
for election next November. Gov. Peter
son, by the way, is favorable to an
Eisenhower nomination for President