Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-03
The Political Mill
Johnson Retirement
Opens Field in Colorado
Republicans Are Given
Chqnce to Win His Seat
By Gould Lincoln

Chqnce to Win His Sect
By Gould Lincoln
Big Ed johnson has announced he
will not run for reelection for Senator
in Colorado next November. For Is
years he has served in the upper branch
of Congress. His voluntary retirement
is cause of regret to Republicans and
Democrats alike. He has always been a
Democrat, but worn no mans collar
except his own. In Colorado. he has
been invincible at the polls. He was
elected Lieutenant Governor and twice
as Governor before he was first elected
to the Senate in 1886. To run against
him has been suicidal exercise for
Republicans.
Senator Johnson's determination not
to run again, therefore, has changed
the political picture in Colorado enor-
mouSly. Here is q Senate seat, now
held by the Democrats, which the Re-
publicanS will have at least fighting
chance to pick UP, and perhaps more
than that. The last time Senator
Johnson ran, in 1913, he won with a
lead of more than ITS. 1000 votes over his
Republican opponent. Gen. Eisen-
hover carried Colorado in 1852 with a
majority of $4,000, and Senator Mill
kin. Republican. was reelected in 1880
with lead Of $4,000.
The Democrats have number Of
potential candidates for the senatorial
nomination. One of them, former Rep
resentative Carroll of the Denver dis
trict, is expected to announce almost
Immediately. It was Mr.. Carroll who
ran against Senator Millikin unSuc-
cessfully four years ago. There have
been rumorS he intended to enter the
lists for the Democratic nomination
against Senator Johnson. With Sena-
tor johnson out, he is regarded as a
certainty to go for the nomination.
Chapman and Brannan.
Two members of the Truman cabinet.
former Secretary of the Interior Oscar
L. Chapman and former Secretary Of
Agriculture Charles F. Brannan, both
hail from Colorado, and both would be
good timber for the Democrats. How
ever, Mr.. Chapman says now he Will not
be a candidate for the senatorial noml-
nation. He has opened law offices IN
Denver and Washington and he intends
to stick to his law practice, at least for
the time being. What he might do IN
1856 is another thing. to be considered
later. Mr.. Brannan also has law offices
in Washington and Colorado. and is
chief counsel for the Farmers Union IN
Colorado. Beyond expressing his regret
that Senator johnson has declined 10
seek reelection, Mr.. Brannan was I'M
willing to 60 in commenting on the
situation in Colorado. He did not take
himself completely out of the picture as
a possible candidate for the senatorial
nomination, nor did he indicate IN any
way he intended to run.
Gov. Dan Thornton, Republican
probably would be the strongest canol-
date the G. o. P. could put forward Tor
the johnson Senate seat Recently,
Gov. Thornton was quoted as saying
he did not wish to run for public
office this year. 1t was not, however.
a statement couched in irrevocable
terms. With Senator johnson out OF
the Senate race. undoubtedly strong
pressure will be brought upon the
Governor to get him to run for Senator
JohnSon's seat. Gov. Thornton has
twice been elected Governor and is
popular Two other Republicans whose
names have been mentioned as possible
nominees for the Senate are 1t. Gov.
Gordon Allott and David Hamil,
speaker of the Colorado House Of Rep
reSentaives. The Democrats have two
members Of the House In the present
Congress, Representatives Rogers and
Aspinwall and the Republicans two,
Representatives Hill and Chenoweth.
None Of them have yet tossed their
hats in the ring for the Senate nomi-
nations.
Success Story.
Senator Johnsons career points up
again the old story Of success in the
United States. The son of Swedish
immigrants, he was born In Scandal.
Kans. He grew up on a cattle ranch
in Nebraska, but had time enough to
graduate from high school in Lincoln.
When he was II years old. he went
to work as railroad section hand,
and later was q telegraph operator
and train dispatcher. Stricken with
tuberculosis, he was taken to Colorado.
and lived in a tent for more than q
year. He regained his health, became
a homeSteader in Northern Colorado.
He was eventually selected to manage
the Craig Cooperative Milling and
Elevator Co., which became one Of
the most successful farm co-operatives
IN Colorado under his direction. In
1922 he entered politics, being elected
member of the State Legislature.
In the Senate, Senator johnson ha,
record Of independent voting. voting
his conscientious decisions. When he
nrst came to the Senate, he was a
strong supporter Of the late President
Roosevelt. He broke with Roosevelt
later. however. over the Roosevelt Su-
preme Court packing bill, and would
not support Roosevelt's bid for a third
term nomination. In 1852, Senator
johnson managed Senator Richard
Russel's campaign for the Democratic
presidential nomination.
Already q movement to draft Sena-
tor johnson to run for Governor has
been started in Colorado. Senator john
son, however, says he has given no
consideration to such q proposal.
Ramnm hnpinn Hast