Evening star., 1954-10-07
The Political Mill
Oregon Has Choice
Of Two Wayne Morses
There Will Be Only One If
Democrat Neubereer Loses
The Political Mill

There Will Be Only One If
Democrat Neuberser Loses
By Gould Lincoln
PORTLAND, Oreg., Oct. 7-This n
a "year of decision" certainly for the
people of Oregon-a decision whether
they want two Wayne Morses In tha
Senate.
If you took Senator Morse, Inde-
pendent, and State Senator Richard L.
Neuberger, Democratic nominee for
the Senate. shook them up in a bag
and turned them out, you wouldn't be
able to detect much difference, except
that Senator Morse is older and has
been talking liberalism" longer.
After listening to Mr.. Nueberger ad-
dress q Lions Club luncheon here, this
writer came away with an impression
that this left wing, 41-year-old Demo-
crat takes the same stand as MIR.
Morse on the issues and that he is
quite as voluble. Neither one has
much warmth-Neuberge less than
Morse-both are long on statistics and
present their arguments logically.
Mr.. Neuberger made one remark,
however, which Senator Morse would
never do at this stage of the game.
Mr.. Neuberger said: II think Ike is a
fine man." and he went on to say that
he thought he, Neuberger. on the
record made by Senator Gordon, might
turn out to be better supporter of the
President than his Republican oppo-
nent. Obviously. Mr.. Neuberger realizes
that the President Is still personally
popular in Oregon.
Paints Gloomy Picture.
Without labelling himself a prophet
Of gloom and doom, MIR. Neuberger
breaches sermon on the prospects for
Oregon and the rest of this Western
country under Republican rule. He
leaves the impression that this State,
which as he says has not elected
Democratic Senator since 1914-the late
George Chamberlain-nor Democratic
Governor since 1884, is on the toboggan.
For his listeners, he points out that
bankruptcies in Oregon increased so
per cent in 1854 over those in 1853,
jumping from 1,005 to 1,500; that the
farmers prices are off IA per cent from
last year, and his land values have
shrunk per cent. Also that personal
income taxes are of 11h per cent and
corporation taxes, 2212 per cent, and in
addition, that the State is going in the
mole to pay unemployment insurance to
the tune Of SIS million by the end of
this year.
Certainly there is no physical indica-
tlon OF these weaknesses. The State
looks prosperous and the people well
employed. except for a long, hard.
fought strike in the lumber business.
. which Is just now ending. Further.
businessmen say that things in Oregon
building. employment, bank deposits
all give the lie to Mr.. Neuberger's
gloomy picture.
Morse Helps.
The Democratic candidate for Sena.
tor Is not one to hide his light under
bushel. and If he is elected Senator.
he will certainly not regard himself in
any way merely protege Of Senator
Morse, despite the fact Senator Morse
is hot-footing 1t about the State to help
him win votes. Some of his followers
are inclined to question whether Sena-
to Mr.. Neuberger; which seems rather
stupid. Senator Morse has had large
following in the State and presumably
still has much Of it.
The Republicans are not discounting
the fact that Mr.. Neuberger is an in
defatigable ampaigner-that he has
been at 1t for months, while their can
didate has had to spend much of his
time IN Washington. They charge that
the Neuberger people are spending more
money than Senator Gordon and his
supporters. This, Mr. Neuberger says,
is a ridiculous statement that he has
only two paid workers in his head
quarters, that he has no billboard
advertising, and that all the money
ne has been able to scrape together,
about $4,000, is going for radio and
television. He has, he adds, many
volunteer workers.
Complains Of Smear.
In more recent weeks, MIR. Neuber-
gers complaint has been directed
against what he calls a whispering
campaign intended to smear him and
also to raise religious issue against
him. He Is Jew. He does not hesi-
tate in his public appearances to refer
to this campaign and to denounce the
Gordon people for it. Also, he pleads
with the Oregon voters to make this a
"two-party State" asserting that the
Republicans have made it "one-party''
State too long.
The Republicans certainly will know
they have been in fight this year,
however. The Neuberger team-Mrs.
Neuberger is a member of the State
House Of Representatives a fast
travelling, hard fighting outfit. She is
just as effective as Mr.. Neuberger. II
not more so.
Republicans hope that by the time
election day rolls around the Neuberger
peak will have been well past, and
that their candidate will ride in with
the solid conservative vote which has
been winning vote in years gone by.
H..AAxs@-.