Evening star., 1954-10-05
The Political Mill
Humphrey Has Eyes
On Sc National Ticket
Energetic Minnesotun Hos
Reasons to Be Hopeful
By Gould Lincoln

By Gould Lincoln
ST. PAUL, Administrator Hubert
H. Humphrey of Minnesota is playing
for big stakes m his present drive for
re-election-no less than a place on
the Democratic national ticket in 1856.
The Senator would like to have either
end of that ticket. His better chance,
however, would be for the vice
presidential nomination, If he Is re-
elected Senator as he is expected to be.
A product of the Northwest, he was
born in South Dakota and had much
of his schooling there. Senator Hum
phrey has travelled fast in Democratic
politics. rallying to himself the groups
which gave the New Deal and the Fair
Deal wing Of the Democratic Party it's
chief support. Principal among these
groups are organized labor. the farmers
union and the Negro voters. He does
not have the support of the Democratic
Party in the South, and would find it
difficult to get. He made his mark
first as mayor of Minneapolis, elected
in 1945 by the -Farmer-Labor
Party and again in 1947.
Stole Show in 194S.
In the Democratic National Conven-
ton of 1948, he leaped into the lime
light by bringing in minority report
of the resolutions committee on the
civil rights plank, upholding the Tru-
man program, including compulsory
Federal FEPC His minority report
was adopted after bitter debate. The
fat was in the fire. Four Southern
States broke away from the Truman
Barkley ticket and gave their electoral
votes that fall to the Dixiecrat candi-
date, Gov. Thurmond of South Carolina.
But Senator Humphrey himself Won
nomination for the Senate in Minne-
sofa and went on to defeat Republican
Senator Joe Ball by a wide margin
244,000 votes. With Mr.. Truman win
ming, too, Senator Humphreys star
moved still higher.
AS a quick talker and debater, SEN
ator Humphrey has few equals on the
Democratic side of the Senate. His
line is always that of the New Deal
Fair Deal, although recently ne has
found it advisable in his campaign to
suggest to the Minnesota voters ne is
needed in Washington to help resi-
dent Eisenhower. If he wins reelection,
Senator Humphrey will have another
Six-year term, and even should he be
the vice presidential candidate in 1856
and the Republicans reelected PreSl-
dent Eisenhower or another Republican
candidate, he could still hold on to his
Senate seat. Senator Sparkman of
Alabama, who was beaten for Vice
President in 1852, had just such an
experience.
When Senator Humphrey looks at
the record of the last quarter century
or more, he finds that his party has
turned to Congress. and more particu-
larly to the Senate, for its vice presi-
Dental candidates although it has pre-
ferred Governors of States for it's
presidential nominations over the years.
In 1928, the late Senator Joe Robinson
of Arkansas, Democratic leader of the
Senate, was the vice presidential can
didate with Alfred E. Smith at the top
of the ticket.
Jack Garner, Speaker of the House,
was twice elected Vice President with
Roosevelt, and for his fourth term Presi-
dent Roosevelt picked Harry S. Truman,
then Senator from Missouri for his run
b ming mate. Mr.. Truman, in 1948, had
as his running mate another Demo-
cratic leader of the Senate, Senator
Barkley of Kentucky, and Adlai Steven
son two years ago had Senator Spark
man on the ticket with him. Such a
record may easily give the Minnesota
Senator reason for thinking the light
ming may strike him in 1856. Much may
depend on the Democrats choice for
President If geography is taken into
consideration, Senator Humphreys bet
ter chance would likely be in the selec-
ton of Averill Hartman, should
he be elected Governor of New York,
or even young Franklin D. Roosevelt.
also of New York. but even with Mr.. Ste
venson again a presidential nominee,
the Minnesota Senator might well make
fight for second place.
Strong with Farmers.
Senator Humphrey seems to be tre-
mendously strong with new up and
coming farm organization, the Farmers
Union. This organization, far more
politically minded and politically active.
has been gaining rapidly in member
ship on it's older rival, the American
Farm Bureau Federation. 1t goes par
ticularly after the young farmers and
strives to make militant politicians out
of them. The only obstacle in Senator
Humphreys path at present is the Re-
publican senatorial candidate, State
Treasurer Val Bjornson. Mr.. Bjohn-
sons chances appear slim, but If Gen
Eisenhower should enter the State and
speak for him, it might make differ
ence. The President owes Minnesota
Republicans quite bit. The great
write-in vote they gave him in their
presidential primary has not been for
gotten, nor the fact that it was the
Minnesota delegation in the G. o. p
National convention which put him
across the mark as winner. Minnesots
Republicans wish more than anything
that the President would come to Min.
neapolis and speak for their ticket