Evening star., 1954-05-20

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Morse Supporting Democrat
Against Senotor Gordon
By Gould Lincoln
California and oregon win nomi-
nate their candidates for the United
States Senate and House during the
next three weeks and thereby set the
stage for contests that will have an
important bearing on the outcome Of
the congressional elections-whether
the 84th Congress Is to be Republican
or Democratic.
In each State Senate seat, now.
held by a Republican. will be fought
for. California has 10 Republicans and
IL Democrats in the House. Oregon
has four Republican members of that
body-its whole delegation.
The Oregon primary takes place to-
morrow, and that in California on June
8. There appears no slightest doubt
about the senatorial candidates who
viii be selected in Oregon. Senator
Guy Gordon. Republican. will win re-
nomination. The Democrats have CEN
tered on Richard Neuberger, q State
Senator and q free-lance writer for
many national magazines and author
Of two books, one Of which is entitled
Integrity" It is biography Of the
late Senator George Norris of Ne
braska, regarded as a great liberal of
his day. Mr. Neuberger is a native Of
Portland and q graduate of the Uni
versity Of Oregon. His wife, Maurine,
is member of the lower house of the
oregon Legislature, forming an unu-
sual hpSband-and-wife legislative team.
State Is Usually Republican.
Oregon is regarded as strongly Re-
publican, and ordinarily Senator Cor
don's reelection would be considered
a virtual certainty. The fly in the Re-
publican ointment at this time is Sena-
tor Wayne Morse, who resigned from
the Republican Party in 1852, became
O violent opponent of the Eisenhower
candidacy and has kept up an unceas-
ing warfare against the Eisenhower
administration. He is listed as an inde-
pendent, but has said he would do all
he could to bring about the election Of
a Democratic Congress. Particularly. he
has said, he would support a liberal
Democrat against Senator Gordon Mr..
Neuberger fills that bill. Senator Morse
has had strong following as Repub-
lican in Oregon. 1t remains to be de-
termined whether that following will
go along with him in opposition to
Senator Gordon.
Democratic National Chairman
Mitchell and the executive committee
Of the Democratic National Commit
tee-which supported Mr.. MITCHELL
have thrown a monkey wrench into
the already uncertain Democratic or
ganization in California. 1t took the
form of refusing national party sup
port to two important Democratic can
didates for two House seats-James
Roosevelt, eldest son Of the late Presi-
dent Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Repre-
sentative Robert L. Condor. Mr.. Mitch
ell went so far As to say both should
get out Of the Democratic primary now
coming up. His opposition to Mr..
Roosevelt was based on the charges Of
adultery brought against Mr.. Roose-
velt by his wife. and to Mr.. Condor
On the fact he had been denied secu-
rity clearance to view atomic energy
tests. In the case of Mr. Roosevelt.
he is running in the strongest Demo-
cratic district in the State-the 26th
and he seems likely to win nominal
ton from a field of opponents. If he
is nominated he will be elected, 1t is
said out there. Mr. Condor. on the
ether hand, faces strong opposition in
the primary-and II he Is nominated
may be defeated by the expected Re-
publican nominee, John F. Baldwin,
jr. Mr.. Condor defeated Mr.. Baldwin
in 1852, but by only 1000 votes.
Yorty vs.. Kuchel.
Senator Kuchel, Republican, will be
nominated to succeed himself in Cali
fornia. Representative Yorty, Of the
congressional district in which Mr..
Roosevelt is seeking nomination, is the
candidate for the Democratic sena-
torial nomination. The California law
permits "cross-f1ling" of candidates.
That is, q Democrat may file for the
nomination of the Republican Party
as we'll as for that of his own. A Re-
publican may do the same. For years
It has been common practice. This
year, however, the law Is modified. A
candidate must specify to which party
he belongs. The change will make 1t
more difficult. it is believed, for a
candidate to win both party nomina-
tions. In senatorial and gubernatorial
elections in recent years, California
has been going Republican pretty con-
sistently. If Mr.. Roosevelt and Mr..
Condor are on the Democratic ticket in
November, Republicans believe-and
some Democrats, also-that the going
may be tougher for the Democratic
ticket.