Evening star., 1953-10-17
The Political Mil 81
Luusche and Burke
Seen as Candidates
Many Republicans Feel
They Will Be Hard to Beut
By Gould Lincoln

When Gov. Frank LauSche appointed
Mayor Tom Burke of Cleveland to the
Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the
death of Senator Taft he virtually set
up the Democratic ticket for Ohio in
1854. 1t will be Lausche and Burke
one of them for Governor and the other
for Senator.
What the shuttle will finally bring
forth is not entirely clear. But the
fact that Gov. LauSche has appointed
so strong a political figure as Mayor
Burke to fill the Senate vacancy is
pretty good sign that he himself may
plan to run again for Governor. In that
event his appointee, having already the
prestige of Senate Office, would become
a candidate for the Senate in the elec-
ton next year.
LauSche and Burke have worked
closely together for years. Burke sue
ceeded Lausche as Mayor of Cleveland,
when Lausche became Governor. The
Governor has been independent of the
Democratic organization in Ohio, law
unto himself, kind of non-partiSan
Democrat who could pick up thousands
of Republican votes, and has been
strong with Republican businessmen of
Cleveland, and other cities. Mr.. Burke.
however, has been the solid rock in the
Democratic picture on whom LauSche
has leaned.
G. O. p. Needs Tickets.
While some Republicans in Ohio are
minimizing the abilities and the record
of the new Senator, more objective OBJ
servers in the Buckeye State say fatty
they expect Burke to make an excellent
Senator. They say he has done an out
standing job as Mayor of Cleveland, an
office to which he was four times cho-
sen. He is comparatively young for the
Senate job-only 54-or for that Of
Governor, should Gov. Lausche decide
finally to make the Senate race him
self. While both LauSche and Burke say
that the appointment of Burke was
made without any strings attached, it
is firmly believed that Senator Burke
will do what Gov. LauSche wants in the
matter of running Tor Senator or Gov
ernor.
On the Republican side of the fence
IN Ohio, it becomes necessary, too, to
pick State ticket, a candidate for Gov
ernor and a candidate for Senator. The
death OF Senator Taft left big hole
IN the Republican Setup. Senator
Brlcker. Republican, was reelected last
year. with a lead of $4,000 over his
Democratic opponent. Charles Taft.
brother OF the late Senator, ran for
Governor against LauSche last year and
was defeated. Robert A. Taft, jr., son
OF Mr. Republican," is being urged to
get into the race for the senatorial
nomination. He has not held public
Office in the past and he would have to
run on his fathers name and reputa-
tlon, although he might prove himself
a good campaigner in the running.
Ihere is one candidate for the Re-
publican senatorial nomination, so far
unannounced, who seems as sure to run
as day is sure to follow night: Repre-
sentative George H. Bender. He is saw
ing nothing just at present, but once
the coming municipal elections in Ohio
on November 3, are out of the way. his
hat will be in the ring. Mr.. Bender
like LauSche and Burke. lives in Cleve-
land, where he has been a strong Re-
publican leader for years. He has seven
times been elected a member of the
House, six times running for Congress-
at-large.
State Redistricted.
Last year, Ohio was redistricted and
Mr.. Bender was elected from the new
I5o olStrlct. His name, however, iS
known throughout the State, which he
carried successfully six times for a place
IN the House. For years he carried the
banner for Taft nomination for Presi-
dent.
Presumably there will be other cam
dldateS for the Republican senatorial
nomination, but they will know thew
nave been in a race, if Mr.. Bender
Goes as he is expected to do and enters
the contest.
Mr.. Burke, while he rolled up huge
maJorltieS in three races for Mavor
OF Cleveland won in 1861 by only 20,0OO
votes To Republicans this meant some
thlng. He was running against William
McDermott, who is the Republican cam
dldate for Mayor again this year. Mr..
Burke announced some time ago he
would not be candidate to succeed
himself. So the Democrats have non1i-
mated Anthony j. Celebrezze.
Republicans in Ohio who have been
willing and content to go along with
Gov. Lausche in his campaigns for Gov
ernor, and those in Cleveland who have
voted for Burke for Mayor, may think
twice before they support either one of
them for the Senate. It is pointed out
that both these gentlemen would add
to the Democratic strength in the Sen
ate, and would vote Democratic. With
national issues at stake in next years
congressional elections, the Republicans
of Ohio are more likely to vote for a
Republican senatorial candidate. They
will remember that Mr.. Lausche went
to Washington early in 1852 to urge
President Truman to run again and
that both Lausche and Burke supported
stevenson in the election that year.