Evening star., 1953-02-14
The Political Min
EisenhoWer's S CoottoiIs
Big 6. O. P. Need in "a
But They'll Be on Their Own,
And Democrats Muy Shoe In
By Gould Lincoln


And Democrats Muy Shoe In
By Gould Lincoln
For the first time In more than 20
years-except for q brief moment in
1047-the Republicans are trumpeting
forth their victories. during this week
Of Lincoln Day dinners and celebra-
tions. Speakers at these dinners, how
ever, are taking occasion to put all
Republican workers on notice they must
prepare for the congressional elections
next year. One Of them. Senator Ives
Of New York, recalled for his audience
in Albany that in the last 100 years, in
only two "off-year" n-presidenti
election years-elections had the party
in power not had its strength reduced
in Congress. In the light Of the fact the
Republicans control the organization
Of the Senate by q whisper, and the
organization Of the House by little
more. these warnings are timely.
The situation for the Republicans in
the 1854 congressional elections, how
ever, is by no means hopeless, II the
Eisenhower administration does well:
II 1t brings to satisfactory conclusion
the war in Korea; II 1t is able to reduce
taxes and balance the budget: II there
Is no disastrous depression. the G. o. p.
may increase its hold on the Senate
and also on the House. But 1t Is going
to take work and organization Of the
intensive kind.
Eleven Republicans Up.
AS Of today. II Republican Senators
must stand for reelection next year,
and Il Democrats. Eleven of these
Democratic Senator's represent States
outside the solid South" They are
Anderson Of New Mexico, Douglas Of
Illinois. Freer Of Delaware, Gillette Of
Iowa, Green Of Rhode Island, Hum
phrey OF Minnesota. Hunt of Wyoming,
Johnson Of Colorado, Murray of Nom
tana, Nicely Of West Virginia, and Kerr
OF Oklahoma. Eisenhower carried all
these States except West Virginia.
However, Eisenhower will not be on the
ticket next year and some Of these
Democratic Senators up for reelection
are well entrenched. with strong per-
sonal followings.
The IL Republican Senators who will
Hampshire, Cooper of Kentucky. Dwor-
shak of Idaho, Ferguson Of Michigan,
Griswold Of Nebraska. Hendrickson Of
New Jersey, Mundt of South Dakota.
Saltonstall Of Massachusetts, Schoeppel
of Kansas. and Smith Of Maine. Three
Of these States may be tough battle
grounds for the Republicans-Ken-
tucky, which was carried by Stevenson,
Democrat. in the presidential race last
year; Michigan and Massachusetts,.
Senator Cooper OF Kentucky has been
an in-and-outer. There has been some
talk that former Vice President and
Senator Barkley may seek to make a
political comeback, and he would be q
hard man for Cooper to defeat. Mich
igan has its Gov. "Soapy" Williams.
Democrat, who may be ambitious
to win Senate seat-he has three
times been elected Governor. In Mas
sachusettS, some of the Democrats are
discussing former Gov. Dever as can
didate against Senator Saltonstall.
Saltonstall. however. has always been
a strong candidate in his own State.
while Dever was defeated last year for
Governor. Saltonstall will be q tough
AAAoAA AOA aAJ ACsAOOA0 0t W NCACuU
Narrow House Margin.
The Republican margin in the House
is too narrow for @. O. P. comfort.
The line-up is 221 Republicans. ais
Democrats and one independent. A
shift of four or five seats in favor Of
the Democrats could be an upset Of
Republican control. The Democrats
hook with hope toward the House. They
note with pleasure that the total vote
cast for Democratic candidates for the
House was larger by many thousand
than the total vote cast for the Re-
publican candidates. This result, how
ever. was due to the fact that 80 Demo.
cratic candidates for the House were
unopposed. rs Of them in the Southern
States. Only IL Republican candidates
were unopposed. The total Republican
vote in the 342 congressional districts
where there were contests was 49,
936.801. while the total Democratic
vote in those districts was 23.654. .283.
giving the q. O. p. plurality Of s..
282.5l8, q percentage for the Repub-
licans Of $50.
The Republicans face the fact that
next year they cannot hope to win more
seats in the States Of the South. Their
gains, If they make any, must come In
the Northern, border and Western
States. Their candidates win be run
ming on their own and without Eisen-
hover coattails.