Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-09-02
By jock Bell and Reed Smith
Associated Press Staff Writers

S44NSA4N4NGA4 A%(HSs 49,
publican leaders exuded conf
dence today that the G. O. p.
will more than hold its own in
the Western half of the United
States in the battle with the
Democrats for control Of the new
Congress.
Through their public state
ments, however, ran some dark
threats of doubt about the farm
ers' reaction to the Eisenhower
administrations flexible price
support program and fears of
possible party losses in depressed
employment areas.
In interviews with Associated
Press reporters, organization
leaders attending the Republic
can National Committee cam
paign strategy conference which
ended yesterday claimed a net
gain of II House and S Senate
seats in IA key Midwestern,
Rocky Mountain and far West
ern States.
The present Senate lineup is
48 Republicans, 46 Democrats,
l Independent and ! vacancy.
In the House, there are 218 Re-
publicans, 213 Democrats, In
dependent and 8 vacancies.
No National Committee men,
Der or State chairman was will
ing to concede publicly any losses
to the Democrats, although Vice
President Nixon said frankly such
results were possible in areas
where unemployment is high.
Michigan Doubtful.
Michigan was mentioned as
among such areas and John
Feikens, State G. o. P. chairman,
said this factor must be taken
into account in forecasting the
November balloting results. He
said economic conditions in Oc-
tober might determine the Mich
igan outcome.
THE economic situation in
Michigan is tight" he said. 1--WE
Republicans think 1t will improve
before the election and that it
may prove the determining
factor"
Senator Ferguson, Republican,
is opposing Democrat Patrick
Mcnamara for the Senate and
Republican Don Leonard, for
nler State police commissioner,
is battling Democratic Gov. G.
Mennen Williams, seeking re-
election.
Mr.. Feikens said he thinks Re-
publicanS have a fighting
chance" to gain one seat in the
House. The Michigan delega-
ton now includes IL Republicans
and five Democrats.
Easy Win Predicted.
John H. Rouse, executive Sec
rotary of the Republican Party
of Wisconsin, predicted a third
term for Republican Gov. Walter
Kohler and a gain of one or two
seats in the party's congressional
delegation.
WisconSin's congressional dele
CATION is composed Of eight Re-
publicans and two Democrats.
with no Senatorial seat at stake
this year.
Mr.. Rouse expressed confidence
Republicans would regain the 9th
Congressional District won in
special election last fall by Lester
johnson, Democrat. Mr.. john
sons Republican opponent is
State Senator william Owen Of
Menomonie.
In Minnesota Republicans are
bucking a tough, adroit cam
paigner in Democratic Senator
Humphrey. But State Chair
man Gordon Yock said he ex-
poets Val Bjornson to win the
COP senatorial nomination in q
September IA primary and defeat
Senator Humphrey in November.
F. Peavey Heffelfinger of
Minnesota, the party's national
finance chairman, thought the
outcome may be determined to.
a great extent by farmer reac-
ton to the Eisenhower admins
tration's farm program. Senator
Humphrey has been a vigorous
hacker of rigid, high-level price
supports.
Expect Minnesota Gains.
Mr.. Yock predicted Minnesota
Republicans will hold their five
present Congressional seats and
win two of the four now held by
Democrats. He said he is conf
dent Republican Gov. C. Elmer
Anderson can handle the winner
of a two-way Democratic pri-
mary contest in that race.
Morton H Hollingsworth, Illi-
nois G. o. P. chairman, expressed
confidence Republican Joseph T.
Meek. lately given a political pat
on the back by President Eisen-
hover, will defeat Democratic
Senator Douglas in November.
But Mr.. Hollingsworth's out
ward confidence evidently was
not fully shared by some Repub-
lican campaigners. President
Eisenhower has chided Senator
Douglas indirectly as one of the
prophets of gloom and doom. ;"
but a fall turn for the worse in
the economic situation could
boomerang on the Republicans.
There is some doubt, too, about
how downstate farmers who ira
ditionally vote Republican will
accept the administrations ag-
ricultural program. Mr.. Hollings-
worth said Republicans have a
chance Of upsetting Democrats
in three House races in the End,
9th and 21st Districts.
There have been reports Re-
publicans are in trouble in Colo
RADIO, but COP State Chairman
Charles A. Haskell couldn't see
it that way. Mr.. Haskell pre-
dicted a Republican sweep in
November in contests for Sena-
tor, Governor and four House
seats. Democrats now hold two
of the latter and the Senatorial
n0sf