Evening star., 1954-09-05
Brown Seen Sure
To Reach Senate
Unless All Signs Fail
By Gould Lincoln


Edgar A. Brown. South Caro-
l1na's Democratic National Com
mitteeman. who broke with
Gov. Byrnes and supported the
stevenson-Sparkman Democratic
national ticket In 1852. win be
elected November 2 to fill the
Senate vacancy caused by the
death Of Senator Maybank. un-
less all signs fail.
Mr.. Browns selection by the
Democratic Executive Committee
Of South Carolina apparently
eliminates the possibility Of any
Byrnes' supporter winning elec-
tion TO the Senate seat.
Tiae State Democratic Com
mittee nominated Mr.. Brown less
than six hours before the mid
night deadline Friday for certify
ing candidates for the November
election. There is . possibility
Mr.. Brown may face write-in op-
position IN the election. Gov.
Byrnes, ut the Governors Con-
ference ut Lake George. N. Y.
last July, said he would not be .
candidate for public ONCE In the
future. He was ineligible, under
State law. for reelection as Gov
ernor.
Wanted Special Primary.
Gov. Byrnes had advocated.
after Senator Maybank's death.
the calling Of . special primary
TO nominate Democratic candi-
date for the Senate. He promised
at the same time to appoint the
winner Of the primary to serve
! out the remainder Of Sen. May
banks term which ends January
2. 1855. The State committee,
however, turned this proposal
down by q vote Of 81 to 10, claim
ing that the "flgure-head" candi-
. date proposal smacked Of "collu-
sion."
Gov. Byrnes has 50 far not
said whether he will now appoint
Mr.. Brown for the unexpired
! term. He can, If he chooses, ap-
point one of his own supporters
to serve until after the election.
He can II he chooses, back his
appointee In a write-in campaign
against Mr.. Brown.
Mr.. Brown declined to go along
with Gov. Byrnes, who an
nounced himself for the cleo
tion Of President Eisenhower and
against Adlai Stevenson, the
nominee of the Democratic Ma
tional Convention in 1852. In
stead. Mr.. Brown campaigned
actively for the Stevenson-Spark-
man ticket. Mr.. Stevenson car
led that State, with the aid Of
Mr.. Brown. with a lead over
Eisenhower Of 1922 votes. His
total was 173,004 votes to 1853, ,082
for Eisenhower-the largest vote
ever given in South Carolina for
a Republican candidate. Mr..
Byrnes said at Lake George If q
presidential election was being
held now, with Gen. Eisenhower
running again against Mr..
Stevenson, he would vote for
Gen. Eisenhower.
Veteran In Politics.
Senator Maybank resigned his
membership in the Democratic
National Committee in 1852 be-
cause he could not go along with
some Of the provisions Of the
Democratic National platform.
He did, however, later vote for
Mr.. Stevenson. Had he lived, he
would have been reelected to the
Senate. It Is expected that Mr..
Brown, when he becomes Sem
ator. will carry on in much the
same line as that of Senator
Maybank.
Mr.. Brown, lawyer and busi-
nessman, has been active In poll
tics for many years. He was
born July IL, 1883, and is now II
years old. He tried twice for the
Senate, in 1925 and 1898, but
failed. He is president pro tenn
of the State Senate. He was the
first South Carolina member Of
the Democratic National Com
mittee in many years who was
not either q Senator or Cover
nor. He was Democratic State
chairman when he was elected
national committeeman. His
home is in Barnwell, 8. c.
South Carolina gave its eec-
toral votes to former Gov. Thur
mond Of the State. the Dixiecrat
candidate for President, in 1948.
Other than that it has stuck con-
sistently to Democratic presiden-
tial nominees. Mr.. Thurmond
tried to defeat Senator Johnston
In 1850. for Senate seat. but
lost. With Senator Johnston and
Mr.. Brown in the Senate. Demo-
Gratis supporting the party's ma
tional organization will be in
complete control.
Will See ia Defecfor