Evening star., 1954-05-07
The Political Mill
Democrats Optimistic
Over Chances This Fall
Returns From Alabama
And Ohio Increase Hopes
The Political Mill
By Gould Lincoln

BY Gould Lincoln
The Democrats, who have just wound
up two days of conferences here. think
things are coming their way. So much
so, they are tackling the Eisenhower
administration head on. They talk Of
"the mess IN Washington. are delighted
with the spectacle of the Mccarthy
Army investigation in which the Re-
publican Senator from Wisconsin is
pitted against the Eisenhower admins
tration, and point with pride to Demo-
cratic victories in recent municipal elec-
tionS. For example, Democrats have
been elected in place of Republican
Mayors in Tucson, Ariz.; Santa Fe,
N. Mex, and last week in St. Paul.
MINI.
They are looking with approval on
the results in two important State pri-
marieS last Tuesday - Alabama and
Ohio. In Alabama. Senator Sparkman,
Adlai Stevenson's running mate in 1852.
was triumphantly renominated, which
is tantamount to election.
The Dixiecrat faction Of the party
sought desperately to defeat Senator
Sparkman, throwing its support behind
a popular member of the House, Repre-
sentative Battle. The campaign was di.
rected particularly at Senator Spark
man because he was willing to go along
with Adlai Stevenson, even though Mr..
Stevenson turned up as an advocate OF
the Truman civil rights program, in
cluding a compulsory FEPC. A defeat
for Senator Sparkman would. indeed,
have been a heavy blow to the Fair
Deal-New Deal Democrats who call
themselves the Democratic National
Party.
It would have been blow, too, to the
hopes of Stevenson supporters who wish
to renominate for President the former
Illinois Governor in 1856. Senator
Sparkman not only defeated his nearest
opponent. Mr.. Battle, by approximately
100 600 votes. but he had $4,000 ma
jority over his three opponents. In other
words. he is in. It looks as though the
Stevenson campaign managers may
have an easier time electing Stevenson
delegates to the 1856 national conven-
ton than might have been expected.
Close Ohio Race.
Ohio's Republican primary showed an
unexpectedly close race between Rep
resentative George Bender and William
Saxbe, speaker of the Ohio House OF
Representatives. Mr.. Saxbe. only 81
wears old and comparatively unknown
politically, ran only $1,000 votes back OF
Mr.. Bender. It was bitter campaign.
in which Mr. SaXbe assailed Mr.. Bender
personally, declaring him UNIT Tor the
Senate seat, which was occupied by the
late Senator Bob Taft.
The Democrats are particularly
pleased. believing that the division IN
the Republican Party in the Ohio prl-
mary will cause trouble for Mr. Bender
next November. They hope, therefore.
to be able to elect Senator Burke, the
Democrat who was appointed last year
by Gov. Frank Lausche to fill the TAFT
vacancy temporarily. Certainly, it looks
like tight race from this point OF view.
Mr.. Saxbe defied the Republican or
ganization when he entered the race for
the Senate nomination last January.
The organization leaders had agreed to
support Mr.. Bender and 1t looked IKE
clear sailing. Mr.. Bender ran as sup
porter of President Eisenhower. al
though in 1852 and earlier Mr.. Bender
was in Senator Taft's corner Tor the
G. o. P. presidential nomination. Mr..
Saxbe, on the other hand, had looked
with more favor on Gen: Eisenhower.
He carried Toledo, Akron, youngstown
and Dayton.
Democratic Worries.
The Democrats are not without ny
or two in their ointment. For example,
Chairman Mitchell kicked up quite
row among the Democrats in California
when some weeks ago he wrote a letter
to Paul Ziffren, Democratic national
committeeman there, saying he would
not support James Roosevelt, son OF the
late President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
or Representative Condor, for noml-
nation to House seats in California.
Some of the Democratic leaders did
not relish having the national chairman
tell California Democrats whom to
nominate in their primaries Mrs. Clara
Shirpser. the California national COM
mitteewoman, broached the subject at
the meeting of the executive committee
of the national committee on Wednes-
day.
The executive committee, however,
adopted a resolution backing Chairman
Mitchell to the hilt. So now 1t is the
national organization, as we'll as Chair
man Mitchell, in the attack on Mr..
Roosevelt and Mr.. Condor. Mr..
Mitchells objection to Mr.. Roosevelt
arises from the fact that Mr.. Roosevelt
has been accused by his wife Of adul-
terry, and to Mr.. Condor because he
has been rated a security risk by the
Atomic Energy Commission. which de-
clined to clear him for atomic energy
tests.
All of which is not causing JOY to
the California Democrats who had
joined in indorsing Mr.. Roosevelt and
MI. Condor for nomination.
Questions and Answers