Evening star., 1954-09-16
The Political Mill
Maine Not Necessarily
Bad Omen for 6. O. P.
New Hampshire Primary
Shows Large 6. 0. P. Vote
The Political Mil
By Gould Lincoln

By Gould Lincoln
Do the results of the Maine election
indicate a Democratic groundswell that
will sweep the Democratic Party into
control of the 84th Congress? It Is easy
to make out case in the affirmative,
and the leaders of the Democratic
Party have been quick to make it.
\ The answer will come. however, on
November 2 when the Al other States
cast their votes for members Of the
House and Senate. AS Of today, the
Democrats have not gained single
House or Senate seat from the Re
publicans. Senator Margaret Chase
Smith, Republican, was reelected. in
Maine, and so were the three sitting
Republican Representatives. They won,
it Is true, with much lower percentages
of the total vote-about IL per cent
lower
Certainly the election of DEM
ocratic Governor in Maine-the first in
20 years-and the reduction in Re-
publican percentages of victory for the
Republican congressional candidates is
rough blow for the COP. psychology
ically. Maine as a political barometer
for the whole country, however, has
not for years been Sure-fire. Local
issues, it is generally admitted, had
terrific impact on Mondays voting
there. Maine voters got rid of an un-
popular Governor, Burton M. Cross.
Further, there had been increasing dis
like for the Republican administration
in Maine-20 years in duration. The
voters were demanding Change
just as the voters of the Nation de-
manded a Change" in control of the
National Government in 1852 after 20
years of Democratic rule.
Memories Are Fresh.
The Democrats are now claiming
that the people of the country are de-
manding q change in the National
Government after two years of Repub-
lican administration. Many Of the peo-
pie, however, may not yet have for
gotten what they got rid of two years
ago. The Republicans have had this
jolt early in the congressional CAM
paign and so has President Eisen-
hover. 1t remains to be seen whether
they have only lost skirmish, or have
experienced the beginning of a rout.
The primary vote Tuesday in Names
neighboring State, New Hampshire,
showed big discrepancy in the num-
bers cast for Republican and Demo-
cratic candidates for the old Tobey
seat in the Senate. Three candidates
for the Republican nomination pollei
approximately $4,000 votes while two
candidates for the Democratic nomina-
ton had only combined vote of about
$4,000.
Primary votes are not conclusive by
any means-but there is no evidence in
the New Hampshire primary that there
is any groundswell for the Democrats
in that State. 1t is a fact, however,
that there was real contest, bitterly
fought, for this Republican senatorial
nomination, which undoubtedly brought
tive Cotton, an Eisenhower supporter.
was the winner against Senator Upton,
appointed to fill the Tobey vacancy
temporarily by Gov. Gregg, and
Wesley Powell who came within 1910
votes of upsetting the late Senator
Tobey in the 1850 primary. New Hamp-
shire was the lead-off State in the
drive to win the presidential nominal
ton for Gen. Eisenhower in 1852,
and former Gov. Sherman Adams, now
the Presidents chief assistant at the
White House, led the fight which gave
Gen. Eisenhower the States delegates
over states for the late Senator Taft of
Ohio and Harold E. Stassen.
No Bridges Opposition.
The nomination of Mr.. Cotton, which
is expected to be followed by his elec-
ton, will place another staunch sup
porter Of the President in the upper
house. Senator Bridges, Republican,
president pro tempore Of the Senate,
was renominated without opposition,
and his reelection seems sure.
Tuesdays primaries in Colorado
brought to a climax sharp battle for
the Democratic senatorial nomination
for the Senate seat which is being re-
linquished by Senator Ed johnson.
Senator johnson was nominated for
Governor, an Office he held twice before
he was elected to the Senate 18 years
ago. The Democratic senatorial nomi-
nation was won by former Representa-
tive John A. Carroll, who defeated
Quigg Newton, Mayor of Denver. The
contest, which aroused more interest
than any other in the State primary,
drew out 125,000 voters-approximate
twice the number of those taking part
in the only Statewide Republican con-
test-for the nomination for lieutenant
governor. This will be Mr.. Carroll's Sec
ond try for the Senate. He was defeated
in 1850 by Republican Senator Millikin.
Enemies of Senator Joe Mccarthy,
Wisconsin Republican, are endeavoring
to make something of the denomination
of veteran Secretary of State Fred r.
Zimmerman. Mr.. Zimmerman has been
sharply critical of Senator Mccarthy
and he was denied the Endorsement of
the Republican State organization.
which gave it to Miss Joyce M. Larkin
of Milwaukee. Beating Fred Zimmer-
man, however, who served one term as
Governor and has had 10 terms as sec
retary of state, was an impossible task.
particularly in an open primary such
as that in Wisconsin. In 1852 he polled
more votes than did popular Gov. Wall
ter Kohler, who was renominated Tues
day. AS matter of fact, Senator Nc
Carthy took no part in the campaign
in any way.
In on Anxious Time