Evening star., 1951-09-01
The Political Mill
Ohio Campaign Pattern
Begins to Take Shape
Brieker Due to Run Again;
Luusche Move Awaited
The Political Mill
By Gould Lincoln


The 1852 political pattern in Ohio,
frequently key State. is beginning to
fall into shape. 1t is definite that Sena-
tor Bricker, Republican, will be a candi-
date to succeed himself. His is one of the
three big political names in Ohio to-
day, the others being Senator Taft,
Republican, and Gov Frank Lausche.
Democrat. Elected Governor of Ohio
three times by huge majorities, John w.
Bricker was elected to the Senate in
1916 with a majority of 100000 votes.
His chance Of victory next year is ex-
ceedingly bright.
Gov. Lausche continues to be. an
indeterminate factor in Ohio's political
picture-but it is now believed that Mr..
Lausche is top man in the list under
consideration for Baseball Commissioner,
an Office with $65,000 salary attached.
Further. it is expected that Gov. Lausche
will accept the commissionership if it
is offered him. A decision in this matter
may be made at meeting the latter
part Of September. Barring his selection
as commissioner, it is expected that Gov.
Lausche will run for denomination and
reelection as Governor; that he will not
seek nomination for the Senate.
No Darling of Labor.
The Democratic Governor independent
as horse-radish, is no darling of organ
nized labor. He has been elected Governor
OF Ohio three times and has had Re-
publican supporters. This seems clear
when it is recalled he was reelected
Governor last year while Senator Taft
was carrying the State by 100000 votes
majority. But while this Republican
support has gone to Mr.. LauSche for
Governor it is unlikely he could have it
for Senator-and certainly not against
Mr.. Bricker, whose standing with the
Republicans in his State has always been
high. The possibility of nomination
for Vice President on the Democratic
ticket next year, if presented as a prob
ability. might influence Mr.. Lausche
against accepting the Baseball Commits
Sionership. But who is to give him such
an assurance?
Gov. LauSches recent visit to Wash
fngton and the White House from which
he emerged to tell the press he had
informed President Truman he, Gov.
LauSche, was for Truman reelection
was interpreted as a move to get on the
good side of the President The Ohio
Governor never did come out for Fer
guson, the Democratic senatorial can
didate against Mr.. Taft, last year. He has
made it clear now, however, that if
President Truman runs next year, Gov.
Lausche will give him all the support
he can in Ohio and elsewhere.
Taft Has Five Years to Serve.
Senator Taft has five more years to
serve of his present term as Senator.
But in Ohio and in the T.tion he
looms large in the 1852 political &,
ton. 1t is expected now he will be a
strong contender for the presidential
nomination-and if he gets it he is
likely to carry Ohio by big vote and
take the Republican ticket along with
him in that State.
The Republicans have by no means
crystalized on nominee for Governor.
Charles Taft, brother of the Senator.
has announced he will be a candidate.
and whether he can be persuaded not
10 throw his hat in the ring is a uues-
ton. The younger Taft has been anath-
ema to the Republican organization of
Cincinnati for years. Several other pos
slbilities" for the c. o. P. gubernatoriaI
nomination have been mentioned. among
them Mayor James Rhodes of Columbus
Roscoe Walcott, Republican leader of the
State Senate, and Attorney General viii
liam ONeill, former speaker of the house.
On the Democratic side of the fence.
should Gov. Lausche move over to base
oall, the pickings for gubernatoriaI and
senatorial candidates would be small
Outside of Mayor Tom Burke of Cleve-
land and Mike Disable, present head Of
the Federal price control organization.
unsuccessful candidate for the Demo-
cratic nomination for the Senate last
year and former Mayor of Toledo, the
party seems bankrupt. 1t certainly is
not likely to turn to jumping Joe" Fer
guson, whom Senator Taft defeated so
oadly last year. Murray Lincoln, for
years prominent in the Ohio Farm BIZ
reau Federation, is too recent a Demo-
crat to get party organization support
although he might like to run for the
Senate next year.