Evening star., 1954-01-07
The Political Min
The Political Min
Spring to Bring Tests
In Several Primaries
Voters in Five Stotes Will
Muke Choices in ApriI-Muy

VoterS IN Five Stutes Will !
Moke Choices in ApriI-Muy
By Gould Lincoln
The hour Of decision is approaching
rapidly for candidates and would-be
candidates for the Senate. Nominations
will be made In three States In April:
Nebraska, April g.; Illinois, April 13.
and New Jersey, April 20. Dwight Girls
void. Republican, is up for renomina-
ton In Nebraska. He was twice elected
Governor and he should win renomina-
ton and reelection, unless the Repub.
lican Party should slump tremendously.
In Illinois, flve Republicans already
have announced their candidacy for a
senatorial nomination to run against
Senator Paul Douglas. Democrat, and q
dozen potential candidates are consid-
ering entering the race. The last filing
date Is January IS, and the last day to
withdraw-if filed-is February /.
Senator Hendrickson, Republican, is
a candidate to succeed himself in New
Jersey. Three other potential candidates
are discussed. Representative Kean Of
the 18th district, State Senator NAL
colin s. Forbes, who tried for the gu
bernatorial nomination last spring
without success, and David 8. VAN
AlStyne. former State Senator
and a member Of the Port Authority.
are the others. The Senate race In New
Jersey is Of great importance to the
Republican Party II it is to keep control
Of the Upper House. The State is
a$yov,0Ixy y4rn Tisaukav,a and YYan drink
son has gone right along with the ad.
ministration.
Losses In November.
It is not beyond the bounds Of prob
ability that before primary time rolls
around the field will have been left to
Hendrickson. New Jersey, in the elec-
tions last November. was a great disap.
pointment to the G. o. p. The Repub-
lican candidate for Governor was
showed under-and in the 9Th congress
sional district the Democrats elected
their candidate to fill vacancy in the
House. However. the count Of the votes
cast for members Of the State Legis-
lature showed the Republicans with a
plurality of 100000 over Democratic
opponents. 1t does not follow, 1t is
argued by Republicans. that last No
vember's defeat Of the Republican can
didate for Governor will be followed
by Democratic victory for Senator
this year. Archibald s. Alexander and
Dwight F. Palmer are mentioned for
the Democratic senatorial nomination.
Alexander has twice been defeated in
contests for the Senate.
Senatorial primaries will be held In
Ohio May 4 and in Oregon May 81. The
Ohio stage apparently has now been
set, and Representative Bender will be
the Republican senatorial nominee.
and Senator Burke, the Democratic. It
should be lively battle. Both men are
from Cleveland. Mr.. Bender was six
times elected Representative at Large
in Ohio. and Is known throughout the
State. He was always an ardent sup
porter Of the late Senator Bob Taft.
Senator Burke was appointed by Gov.
Lausche. Democrat. to fill the vacancy
in the Senate caused by the death of
Senator Taft. At the time, Burke was
Mayor Of Cleveland. The fact that Sec
retary Of the Treasury Humphrey has
decided to back Bender appears to have
eliminated the probability of a con-
test in the Republican senatorial pri-
mary. Gov. Lausche is supporting
Burke, and that's that. Senator Con-
don. Republican. is expected to be re-
nominated In Oregon. The State has
been strongly Republican In recent
years.
Barkley May Run.
No one knows exactly. 50 far. whether
former Vice President Barkley will run
for the Senate against Republican
Senator Cooper. The Kentucky
primary does not take place until
August Z. However, Barkley. who Is
exceedingly popular in his State, will
be expected to make up his mind about
the Senate contest in reasonable time.
No one knows, either, whether Senator
johnson Of Colorado. Democrat. will
run for another term, although it is
shrewdly suspected he will. Johnson,
who has many Republican supporters
in Colorado as we'll as Democratic, is
regarded as unbeatable. For that
reason, If for no other, the Democrats
anxious to control the Senate will urge
him to stay in the race. The Repub-
licanS are grooming Gov. Dan Thorn
ton. who has twice been elected, to
make the race for Senator. II johnson
steps aside, Thornton may have
chance-perhaps a good chance-of
victory. Former Secretary OF Agricul-
ture Brannan might be the Democratic
choice If Senator johnson steps aside.
These are a few Of the important
decisions which must be made before
the senatorial primaries roll around.
and on them. and several others. the
party control Of the Senate in the
84th Congress may depend.