Evening star., 1952-08-21
The Political Min

Fdces d KedI Problem
Must Pick 6. o. P. Candidate
For Mcmahon Senote Seat
By Gould Lincoln
GREENWICH, Conn.,, Aug. 2l-Gov.
John Davis Lodge of Connecticut has
a real problem on his hands-the de.
ciSion he must make in the selection
OF Republican senatorial candidate to
make the race for the seat left vacant
by the death of Senator Brien McMahon.
Democrat.
First, he must decide whether he him.
self is to become a candidate for the
senatorial nomination. He is being pulled
and hauled both ways. Some of the
Connecticut Republicans insist he should
serve out the four-year term for which
ne was elected two years ago-the first
1our-year term ever given a Connecti-
cut Governor. Others are urging him
to get into the race for the Senate seat.
arguing that he would be the strongest
candidate the Republicans could put
up-at time when winning Senate
seats from the Democrats is all impor-
tant. In addition. they say that his
service in the House of Representatives
gives him a better grasp of national
problems than any other potential can
1idate the Republicans could send to
ne Senate. Further. Gov. Lodges own
lnclinations are believed to be for the
Senate.
Second, If Gov. Lodge is not to be a
candidate for the Senate. he may feel
obligated to support one of the aspirants
Tor the senatorial nomination-for ex-
ample. Prescott Bush. who was tho
candidate against Senator Benton.
Democrat, in 1850 and lost by O bare
1000 votes. or Mrs. Clare Boothe Luce.
former member Of the House of Repre-
sentatives, clever writer and campaigner.
and glamorous withal. He must decide
to throw In with one of them, or still
another candidate. or to keep hands of
and let the Republican State convention.
which is to meet September (, make
the selection. with perhaps his influence
exerted behind the scenes.
Appointment Not Compulsory.
A third decision he has to make is
whether to fll the vacancy in the Sen
ate by appointment. Since Congress is
not in session and may not meet until
next January. there is no real COM
pulsion upon the Governor to appoint
any one to this job. William Purtell, tho
Republican nominee to run against Sem
ator Benton, Is anxious to have the ap-
pointment. so that in his campaign
against Benton he can appear as "Sena-
tor" too. Also If Mr.. Purtell were an.
pointed to the Senate and should win
in November he would have seniority
in the Senate over any Republican who
might win the Mcmahon seat-and
seniority means lot to Senators.
If Gov. Lodge should decide to seek
the senatorial nomination himself, It
seems unlikely he would resign at this
time as Governor and have himself ap-
pointed to the Mcmahon seat. It's not
a savory procedure, although it has been
exercised by number of Governors who
desired to enter the Senate. He could
leave the seat vacant and just seek the
Republican senatorial nomination at
the hands Of the State convention with
every prospect he would be successful.
Or he could give the appointment to Mr..
Purtell, as the latter desires. and make
the race himself without the benefit
Of temporary possession Of the Nc
Mahon seat.
:. The Democrats seem no more clear
at this point regarding q candidate
for the McMahon Senate seat. There
are plenty Of aspirants. among them
Representatives Ribicoff and Mcclure.
They will meet in convention Septem-
ber 5 and 6 to make their decision
on candidate. So far there has been
no indication that former Gov. Chester
Bowles, now in India, will get into the
race, although he might be the strong
est candidate the Democrats could put
up. Bowles was defeated for re-elec-
ton by Lodge in 1850.
Religious Issue Raised.
Another issue for the Republican,
and also for the Democrats-has popped
up, an issue which should have nothing
to do with the decisions Of either party
the so-called religious issue. william
Purtell, the Republican nominee for
the Senate TO run against Benton, is
Catholic. Mrs. Luce is also q Cath
~AASs Nv DVAAAW Va VAAV PVAAVASVD 0AG Dhy~
ing 1t would never do for the Repub-
licans to have two Catholic candidates
for the Senate in Connecticut at the
same time. It's ridiculous, of course.
and the voters win probably give no at
tention to such an argument. Why
shouldn't there be two Catholic Sena-
tors from Connecticut? There are two
Protestant Senators from Massachu-
sets.
The Democrats also are caught of
with this so-called issue. It Is argued
that Brien Mcmahon was Q Catholic
and therefore the Democratic sena-
torial nomination should go to q MEM
-ber-of that church. Representative
Ribicoff, who appears o likely candi.
date. does not happen to be a Catholic.
but Jew. No Jew has been q Sena-
tor from Connecticut. So the re-
ligious issue Is supposed to make it
tough for the nomination Of Mrs. Luce.
who Is Catholic and equally tough
for Mr.. Ribicof who is not q Catholic.
There's no sense to it.