Evening star., 1953-08-04
The Political Mill
Toft's Death May Scare
Some Unity Into COP.
Reculcitrunt Senators
Advised to Get Into Line
The Political Mil
By Gould Lincoln

The first reaction to the death of
Senator Taft is that the Republican
Party and the Eisenhower administra-
ton have suffered terrific blow. That
is quite true. The late Ohio Senator has
been a tower of strength to both. He
inspired great confidence. He was q
strong leader-probably the. strongest
Republican leader Of the Senate since
the late Nelson Aldrich of Rhode Island
generation or two ago.
Tafts death. however, could have the
effect of shaking the Republicans to-
gether. It could impress upon them
the fact that if they do not hang to-
gether, they will certainly hang sepa-
rately. The recalcitrants of the session
now closed may take another look and
arrive at the same conclusion that SEN
ator Taft did, after the 1852 election
the conclusion that individual diff
ferenceS should be subordinated in the
interest of successful Republican ad-
ministration Of the Government, the
first in 20 years.
Support Needed.
Under the leadership of Senator
Knowland of California, assigned to
the job by Senator Taft himself when
he became i'll, the Republicans gave a
good account of themselves in the ses-
sion now ended. Tafts death, clip
ping the minute lead numerically of
the Senate Republicans over the Demo-
Gratis, makes it all the more important
that the Senate Republicans give their
new leader loyal and solid support.
Two Republican Senators, Taft and
Charles Tobey of New Hampshire, have
died since the opening of the 83d Con-
greSS last January. Their passing left
the Republicans with As Senate seats
to Al for the Democrats. Since Demo-
cratic Gov. Frank LauSche of Ohio is
expected to appoint a Democrat to the
Taft seat. and Republican Gov. Gregg
Of New Hampshire will appoint a Re
publican to I'LL the Tobey seat, the
Democrats will have 48 seats to Al for
the Republicans, and one for Senator
Morse Of oregon, when the second ses-
sion Of the S3d Congress meets. Morse.
erstwhile Republican who has promised
to campaign for the Democrats and
against the Eisenhower administration
in congressional elections next year,
has nevertheless declared he will vote
to keep the Republican organization Of
the Senate-and place responsibility
for legislation upon the G. o. P. and
President Eisenhower.
So, unless death should intervene
again and strike down one or more
Democratic Senators from States which
have Republican Governors, the Demo-
Gratis will have the advantage over the
Republicans in the Senate until after
the elections next year. 1t will matter
little to the Democrats whether they
have the name-they will still be in a
position to dominate the Senate-par-
ticularly If on important votes they
have Senator Morse voting with them.
G. o. p. Selection?
Suggestion has been made that Gov.
Lausche may name Republican to fill
the Taft vacancy until the 1854 elec-
tions; that he might even appoint
Charles Taft, the dead Senator's
brother, or another member Of the
Taft family-since Lausche has always
shown independence of the party yoke.
It is in the cards, however, that Lausche
may wish to run for the Senate himself
next year. If he does, it scarcely ap-
pears likely he would affront the
Ok0Vo Vi NAAAO Wy SAN4A6 VAC AoAV
seat to q Republican now. If Lausche
should become a candidate In his own
right in 1854, he will be difficult man
for the Republicans to defeat. Charles
Taft may wish to try for the Repub-
lican nomination. II he does, he will
have opposition. Organization Repub-
licans in the past have had little use for
Charlie Taft, and while he won nomi-
nation for Governor in 1852, he was de-
feated by Lausche.
One possible effect a Democratic
plurality might have in the Senate is
that If the Democrats acted together
they could block appropriations for
Senator McCarthy's investigating sub
committee. In such an effort to clip
the Wisconsin Senator's wings, they
might have the support Of Morse. and
Of some of the Republicans. The fact
the three Democrats on that subcom-
mittee have resigned, and no other
Democrats have been willing to serve.
has drawn a Democratic line against
Mccarthy and his tactics.