Evening star., 1952-03-27
The Political Min
Chances Seem Slim !
For Mccarthy Defeat
Followers Believe Senator
Doing Reol Job for Country
The Political Mil
By Gould Lincoln

OsssS seOOse0pD -
By Gould Lincoln
MADISON. wis. Mar Democrats
and anti-McCarthy Republicans for
months have been searching for candi-
date to defeat Senator Joe" for re.
election. To date they have been com.
pletely unsuccessful. Unless there is big
change, too, In sentiment among the
rank-and- lille wisconsin voters between
now and the senatorial primary next
September, Senator Mccarthy seems as
good as renominated, and II he's re.
nominated the chances Of his defeat by
o Democratic candidate in November
are mighty slim.
The anti-McC Carthy group in the
State hoped at one time that Gov.
Kohler would oppose the Senator in the
Republican primary, and the Governor
toyed with the idea. He decided finally
to run for reelection as Governor. This
removed the strongest possible con-
tender against Senator Mccarthy for
There are those who say that even the
popular Governor could not have de.
feated Senator Mccarthy. A race be-
tween the two would have brought q
devastating battle in Republican ranks
and created a situation bad for the
q. o. p. In the November elections.
Strong Following in State.
Former Gov. Oscar Rennebohm,
wealthy businessman and owner Of
a chain of drugstores here, also has
been strongly urged to get into the
race for the Republican senatorial NOM
ination-and he is still considering the
proposal. he said on his return here
yesterday from Florida. The question
Of his health. he says, may influence
his decision. The better opportunity to
defeat Senator Mccarthy, If there is
one. appears to lie in the Republican
primary. Under the Wisconsin laws. II
is possible for Democrats and independ-
ents to move into the Republican pri-
mary and vote. If candidate Of Koh-
lers or Rennebohm'S vote-getting ability
among Republicans could be persuaded
to run. the anti-McCarthy forces might
have q chance with the aid of Demo-
cratic and independent votes.
Once Senator Mccarthy is renomi-
mated as the Republican candidate, it's
unlikely that any Democrat could
VahO 4AAo AACdouLCs 4OO u1dlAy 1tCRuOAl-
cans would be disinclined to give this
Senate seat to Democrat, and so
would stick to Mccarthy. Furthermore.
there is no doubt Senator Mccarthy
has strong following throughout the
State, following that believes in him
and feels he has done q real job for
the country in his attacks upon the
State Department and Secretary Ache.
VoYH chaH1t HAHn(SorthUicyp1v al
much as you like, but it does not shake
the faith Of these people in the Senator.
Reuss Is Only Opponent.
Up to the present time only one has
had the temerity to announce himself
candidate against Senator Mccarthy
Henry Reuss of Milwaukee, Democrat.
Mr.. Reuss is one Of the younger group Of
Democrats in the State who have done
much to bring the party to life. He is q
graduate of Harvard and wealthy man.
In 1850 he was the Democratic candidate
for attorney general but was defeated.
He failed, in the same year. in his at.
tempt to win election as Mayor of Mil
waukee, but by narrow margin. Mr..
Reuss announced his candidacy for the
Democratic senatorial nomination last
November, and he has been campaigning
hard ever since.
In making his announcement. Mr..
Reuss said: Some one has to stop Nc
Carthy'S raids on independent tilinking
and his affronts to decent people. From
now on, it's me or Mccarthy"
Two other young Democrats, State
Senator Gaylord Nelson of Madison and
Thomas Fairehild, former attorney gen.
eral and at present United States district
attorney, have been urged to get into the
race for the Democratic senatorial NOM
nation, too.
The Democratic Organization Commit.
tee, the organization Of younger Demo-
Gratis which has been dominant in the
party in recent years. took poll on this
question Of senatorial nominee, and
Nelson ran first and Fairchild second.
Whether either one Of these gentlemen
will get into the race is not yet clear.
Senator Mccarthy has kept hands of
so far in the Republican presidential
primary contest. Senator Taft has
spoken kindly of him, and Gov. Warren
and Harold Stassen have declined to
comment, for or against Mccarthy. say
ing that the people Of Wisconsin are
the ones to pass on the Senator. as.
indeed. they are. It's significant, how
ever, that none of the candidates has
locked horns with Joe Mccarthy.