Evening star., 1953-07-26
Political Situation
In State Complicated
For Governor Gregg
By Gould Lincoln

The death Of Senator Tobey
Of New Hampshire creates . po-
litical situation in the State that
win require ironing out.
Gov. Hugh Gregg. q Republic
can, will fill the Tobey seat with
another Republican, thereby pre-
venting any change In the politi-
cal complexion Of the Senate.
The tug will come. If it does come,
over whom the Republicans will
nominate to I'LL Senator Tobey's
unexpired term at the election
In November next year.
The situation is further comp
Heated by the fact that Senator
Bridges. Republican and senior
Senator from New Hampshire.
will also be up for denomination
and reelection next year.
Decision for Governor.
Gov. Gregg, one Of the youngest
governors New Hampshire has
had, will have to decide whether
he himself desires to become q
candidate for the Tobey seat
next year. II he should decide
to run for the Senate. the Gov
ernor may be expected to ap-
point an outstanding Republican
who will be content to serve for
a single year and then step aside,
leaving Gov. Gregg free to CAM
paign for the senatorial nomi-
nation.
Should Gov. Gregg. on the
other hand, determine to seek
q second term as governor and
to wait until later to make bid
for Senator. he win appoint as
Senator a man who will become
a contender for the nomination.
In the latter case, the appoint
rnent might go to either Of New
HampShire'S members Of the
House, Representatives Chester
E. Morrow and Norris Gotten, to
former Gov. Sherman Adams,
assistant to President EiSen.
hover, or to Wesley Powell who
was a candidate against Senator
Tobey for the Republican nomi-
nation in 1850. Gov. Gregg was
Mr.. Powell's campaign manager
during that primary contest.
Unlikely to Resign.
It is considered unlikely that
Gov. Gregg, who took Office only
seven months ago. would resign
and have himself appointed to
the Senate to fill the vacancy
ere ated by Senator Tobey's
death, with q view to running
for the nomination for the unex-
pired term at the primary next
year. The voters, it is said, might
believe that the young governor
should at least fill out the term
for which he was elected last
year.
However, a shrewd political
guess is that Gov. Gregg will
name a new Senator who will be
content to serve for one year and
leave the field open to the Gov
ernor to run for the nomination
in 1854. It is customary for
governors of New Hampshire to
serve for two consecutive terms,
but if Gov. Gregg serves one,
and then seeks a Senate seat,
there will be no criticism Of
him.
Hard Man to Defeat.
In the event Gov. Gregg fol-
lows this course. he may have
and likely will have-oppositicn
in the primary. ASpirants for,
the Senate who might have run
against Senator Bridges may be
more inclined to get into q race
with Gov. Gregg than with the
veteran Bridges. Gov. Gregg,
however, is popular and may be
a hard man to defeat.
Former Gov. Adams may con-
slider that his first obligation is
to President Eisenhower and so
not be available. if Gov. Gregg
should desire to appoint him to
the Senate. There has been no
disclosure regarding that situa-
ton. On the other hand. Presi-
dent Eisenhower might figure
that it would be to the admin
istration'S advantage to have q
strong and loyal supporter-such
as Mr.. Adams would be-in the
and that such a feeling
on the part Of the President
might have its effect.
Normally Republican.
New Hampshire is normally q
Republican State and it is be-
lieved that in the elections next
year the Republicans will have
the better chance Of winning
both Senate seats. The Democra-
tic organization, which sup
ported former President Truman
in the Presidential preferential
primary last year and took q bad
at the hands of the sup
porters of Senator Kefauver Of
Tennessee, is not in good shape.
John l.. Sullivan, former Sec
retary Of the Navy, has been
as a possible candidate
for the Senate, and also Law
renee F. Whittemore, head Of the
Brown Co. of Berlin, N. H., preSi-
dent of the New England Council
and an outstanding businessman.
Mr.. Whittemore was at one time
president Of the Federal Reserve
Bank of Boston.
Chairmen of Committees.
Senator Tobey's death places
Senator Bricker, Republican, of
Ohio in line for one of two com
mittee chairmanshipS.
Senator Capeheart, Republic
can, OF Indiana is next in Repub-
lican seniority to become chair.
man OF the Senate Interstate and
Foreign Commerce Committee.
which Tobey headed. But Mr..
Capehart now is chairman Of the