Evening star., 1953-12-19
The Political Mill
The Political Mill
illinois 9. 0. P. Seekino
Man for Senute Race
Douglas, q Popular Senator,
Seen as Tough Contender
By Gould Lincoln

By Gould Lincoln
Senator Paul H. Douglas Of Illinois
has announced he will seek reelection
and the Republicans are not sure up
to date what they will do about it.
Three have tossed their hats in the ring
for the Republican senatorial nominal
ton, and dozen or more are standing
by. hoping that there will be some sign
from the political heights favorable to
them. The strongest man they. the Re-
publicans, could put up to run against
Senator Douglas is not candidate. He
is Gov. William G. Stratton, who next
year will have two years of his present
term still to serve as Chief Executive
Of the State. It has been suggested that
the Governor would rather continue in
that office for a second term than seek
a Senate seat. Be that as 1t may. unless
the Republican national command
bears down on Stratton-and perhaps
even if it doeS-the Governor is not
going to run.
Tough Contender.
Yet the Republicans need this Illinois
Senate seat. 1t is one which they feel
they may have a chance of taking
away from the Democrats. although
they admit that Senator Douglas will
be tough contender So far, the
Republican organization has kept its
hands off. Gov. Stratton and Senator
DirkSen are shying away from giving
their blessings to any of the potential
nominees. They may continue to let
nature take its course and a settle
ment come in the primary But, with
a wide field to choose from, the voters
sometimes fail to select the strongest
candidate. So far the announced can
didates are Joseph Meek, executive
vice president of the Illinois ASSocia-
ton of Retail Associations Edward A.
Hayes, a Chicago lawyer from Decatur
and former National Commander Of
the American Legion, and Edward
O'Brien, a perennial candidate. But
the group of possibilities is large. Brig.
Gen. Julius Klein of the Illinois Ma
tional Guard, Park Livingston, trustee
of the University of Illinois; Elmer
Hoffman, Republican State treasurer;
Mrs. Ralph Church. member of the
House; Representative Leo E. Allen,
chairman of the important Rules Com
mittee of the House; Representative
Leslie c. Arends, Republican whip of
the House: Vernon Mitchell, Supern-
tendent of public construction for
Illinois, and Walker Butler, majority
leader of the State Senate, all are in
the picture.
Whether any of these candidates. il
named, can defeat Senator Douglas,
it's too early to say, although the
Republicans talk about sweeping the
State next year. Senator Douglas has
proved himself valuable Senator dur
ing his five years in Washington-one
OF the ablest of the men on either side
Republican or Democratic He has
been a tower of strength in the drive
Tor economy, so much so that he
encountered bitter criticism from some
of the New Deal-Fair Deal Democrats
during the Truman administration. He
is recognized as a liberal, too He is
more correctly described, however, as
an independent.
Elected Easily.
Douglas was elected in 1948, defeating
former Senator Brooks. Republican. bv
more than 100000 votes. He was run
ming against weak candidate although
1t was not realized how weak until elec-
tion night. Senator Brooks had been
closely aligned with the then Gov.
Frank Green, whose administration did
not please Illinois voters They turned
on Green and Brooks and threw them
out. Two years later Senator Dirksen,
a Republican, won his Senate seat with
a margin of approximately 300 900 votes
and Eisenhower last year carried the
State in a big way, and SO did Gov.
Stratton.
In making his announcement, Sena-
tor Douglas took shot at the current
Republican hunts for Reds" and fellow
travellers in the Government, both now
and in the Roosevelt and Truman ad-
mlniStrations. Il want to preserve the
traditional right of every American" he
said, ito fair trial by law. to the right
to speak freely what is on his mind, to
his right to good reputation even
though he diSagrees with a politician"
Senator Douglas mentioned no names
of Republican inquisitorS. He clearly
had in mind, however, Senator Nc
Carthy of Wisconsin and Representative
Velde of Illionis, Republican chairman
of the House Un-American Activities
Committee.
This attack on Red hunting by Re-
publicans is in line with the statements
made by Adlai Stevenson, former Gov
error of Illinois, and Democratic presi-
Dental candidate last year Knowing
that the Republicans plan to emphasize
the Red issue, Douglas is getting in the
first blow in his own campaign.