Evening star., 1953-08-11
The Political Min
MunyD Decisions Face
Morse Before 1856
Will He Continue to Wear
His Independent Label?
BY Gould Lincoln

By Gould Lincoln
Senator Wayne Morse of Oregon, who
has renounced his membership In the
COP. has made . concession. He
will vote. If the Democrats should at
tempt to take over control Of the
Senate organization, to keep the Repub-
licans in power. This concession, the
Oregon Senator has said. is made in
conformity with his ethical obligation"
to vote with the Republicans on sena-
torial organization issues. He added
that the people of the Nation in 1852
voted the Republican Party into power
and he would abide by that decision
until the people have q chance in the
1854 congressional elections to review
their decision"
Senator Morse apparently considers
himself not bound ethically or any
other way to support President Eisen-
hover or the Republican program in
the Senate. He himself was reelected
to the Senate in 1850 as Republican.
In that year he sought the Republican
nomination and won It. Those facts.
however, do not weigh heavily If at all
with Senator Morse. With much hon.
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the Republican Party last year when
he found himself at odds with the
G. o. P.s presidential candidate on wa
ter power and other issues. Indeed, he
campaigned to defeat Gen. Eisenhower.
With more honesty, Senator Morse
could, if he would, resign from the
Senate next year and run for re-
election either as an independent or as
a Democrat. The Republicans Of Oregon
sent him to the Senate for six-year
term, which does not expire until Janu-
ary 1857. It appears they are entitled
to the services of q Republican Senator
for that period whatever Senator
Morse may think about 1t.
will Boost Democrats.
The Oregon Senator. who calls him
self an independent. is planning to
campaign for the election Of a Demo-
cratic Congress next year. The elec.
ton of such Congress, he insists. is
the first Step-the necessary step-to-
ward getting rid Of Gen. Eisenhower
and his administration in 1856. His
bitterness against Gen. Eisenhower is
extreme. He claims that the President
is paying of the powerful, selfish eco
nomic forces that ran Eisenhowers
campaign and are running his admin
istration." If Senator Morse has his
way, Senator Gordon, his Republican
colleague. who comes up for reelection
next year, will be defeated, along with
other Republican candidates for re-
election to both Houses of Congress.
It's Of much interest how much in
fluence Senator Morse can actually
exert in the Oregon senatorial election
for the Republicans cannot afford to
lose Senate seats and hope to retain
control of that body in the 84th Con-
greSs which comes into being in Janu-
airy, 1855. Running as Republican in
1850, Senator Morse received 376.510
votes to 116,780 for his Democratic OPP
ponent. His lead was 259,730-a huge
lead in any mans language, despite the
fact that 1860 was Republican year"
and his Democratic opponent was not
strong candidate. In that year Mary
land was electing Republican Senator
for the first time in many years. and
Utah was turning out Of Office veteran
Senator Thomas, a well-intrenched New
Dealer. How9much Of his former popu-
,larity has Senator Morse lost by his re-
cent conduct2 Certainly he has lost
his appeal to Republicans. But he may
have retained his following among the
so-called independents. and the Demo-
Gratis should love him.
Failed :n Oregon.
During the presidential campaign
of 1852, Senator Morse campaigned
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President carried Oregon by 420.815
votes to 270,597 for Adlai Stevenson.
whom Senator Morse was supporting.
The Eisenhower lead was slightly more
than 10000 votes. How much influence
Senator Morse had on the result is any
body's guess. Senator Gordon was re-
elected in 1948, the year Truman was
defeating Dewey for the presidency, by
299, ,295 votes to 199,275 for the Dem
ocratic candidate.
Senator Morse, II he is to seek re-
election, will run again in 1856, the year
presumably that Gen. Eisenhower will
be seeking second term in the White
House. If Gen. Eisenhower retains
his present great popularity-and If his
administration sees continued prosper
ity at home and peace abroad, Senator
Morse may have his troubles. Also, Sen
ator Morse will have to decide whether
to make the race as an independent or
as a Democrat. It's inconceivable he
would ever again seek q Republican
If he goes all the way over
and joins the Democratic Party, he
would be handicapped If Gen. Eisen-
hover is to carry Oregon. II he runs as
an Independent, without any definite
party organization. he may face q diff
ficult situation. Independents have been
elected to the Senate. The late Senator
Norris Of Nebraska Is an example. SEN
ator Norris started out. like Senator
Morse, as a Republican, and finally
broke with the G. o. p, supporting
Democratic presidential candidates. He
was once reelected as an independent.
The second time he tried he was dis
mally defeated by Republican. The
late Senator Bob LaFollette and his
brother Phil organized q Progressive
Party in Wisconsin and were successful
for q number of years. It was we'll
organized party. Perhaps Senator
Morse can try that method. He has two
years and something more in which to
set the wheels in motion.
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