Evening star., 1952-10-23
The Political Mill q
Luusche Has Ohio Edge
Yet q Taft Is in the Race
Governor Expects Hard Fight
Against Senator's Brother
The Political Mill
By Gould Lincoln

By Gould Lincoln
CLEVELAND, Oct. 23.-Gov. Frank
Lausche, Democrat. three times chosen
Governor of this State and once defeated.
finally is hooked up in race for office
against a Taft. The Governor declined
two years ago to run for the Senate
against Ohio's "Mr. Republican" Bob
Taft. He chose. instead, to run for re-
election, and he won by a margin OF
something like 10000 over his Republic
can opponent while Senator Taft was
carrying the State by 100000 votes. This
year a Taft sought him out-Charlie,
the other Taft, a younger brother Of the
Senator.
It is common talk around here that
these two gubernatorial candidates are
niscast-that Charlie Taft should be the
Democratic nominee, and Frank Laus-
che the Republican. Mr.. Taft in his
public career has been q reformer-and
some of the Old Guard Republicans call
him New Dealer. Gov Lausche, on the
other hand, is as strongly independent Of
organized labor pressure as horse-radish
and as acceptable to the members Of the
chamber OF commerce as Senator Taft.
Indeed, the Governor has in the past re-
ce1ved the support-and the votes-of
many Republican businessmen. He is ex-
pected to do so again on November 4.
Gov. Lausche in Front.
Although Gov Lausche is given a
decided edge in this race by the Demo-
Gratis and many Republicans, not to
mention the so-called objective observ-
ers, he believes himself in hard fight.
He has an opponent with mighty good
name to run for Office in Ohio. Tafts
just don't get beaten in this State. al
though they have been up against stiff
opposition. Charlie Taft however, has
the handicap of having offended the Re-
publican organization in his own home
toWn-in fact, trampled on it. He worked
Tor the charter and city manager gov
ernment In Cincinnati, to get rid of in
efficiency and corruption. They have
never forgiven him.
What the Republicans like about
Lausche-and many of them have voted
for him in the past-is that he doesn't
keep things in a stir all the time. He
has been Governor, and not disturbed
them too much. They say they know
where he stands. and that Charlie Taft
he might tee off,
So Mr.. Taft, in search of issues
against LauSche, calls him the "do-noth-
ing Governor" Taft has been campaign
ing all over Ohio for the governorship
ever since March year ago. First to
win the nomination and now to win the
election. He is as indefatigable as his
brother, Robert. Also, he has much of
that personal charm which is now de-
manded of candidates for high political
Office. Further, he has adopted a slam
bang technique of attack, criticizing his
opponent vigorously.
He hasn't hesitated to pin the big
business label on Gov. Lausche. Taft
insists that special interests and blocs
dictate to Lausche.
Points to Own Record.
Il have political record of 20 years"
Taft says, which shows independent
Judgment. No special interest or bloc
dictates to me, not even my family con-
nectlons or my political associates" Mr..
TAFT adds: Il have blocs opposing me.
and one of them is the powerful busi-
ness group that praises a do-nothing
Governor and wants no part of an ef-
fectlve, progressive administration at
Columbus" With the other hand. Taft
belabors the Governor for being like a
New Dealer because of his desire "to
hang on to power" He has already
served three terms" says Taft. Until
Lausche came along. no Governor in
Ohio's history ever sought to serve more
than three terms"
Gov Lausche has been put somewhat
on the defensive in his own race. He
Is, however. personable and dynamic
figure and he can always dish it out in
a campaign He is regarded as q sure
winner. unless Gen. Eisenhower. the
Republican candidate for President,
should sweep the State. It is said here
that Ike would have to win with a
margin around $50 900 votes to give Taft
chance for Governor.
incidentally, Gov. Lausche, who has
been pretty much of lone wolf in
some OF his campaigns, has hooked him.
self in this time with the Stevenson
Sparkman ticket-and previously to that
called on President Truman to run again.
The Stevenson ticket will need all the
help it can get in this State-for as
of today Gen. Eisenhower is out in front,
according to most observers, biased and
unbiased.