The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1954-10-05
BY DOUGLAS .. CORNELL

- &0WNBA6
MILWAUKEE, R-The political
fortunes of Wisconsin Democrats
seem to be rising this year-but
probably not as high as Demo
eTatic hopes.
- IN election in which the gain
81 . single seat will be important
U establishing control Of Congress,
democrats in dairyland are count
ing on increasing their representa-
ton in the House by at least one
Or two members. They may sue
eeed, although October signposts
sometimes are wrong In Novem-
her.
The party also il more hopeful
81 electing governor than at any
time in years.
While Republicans dispute that
The opposition viii wind UP with
any significant advances, q good
many Of them-party officials and
candidates, as well 40 ordinary
voters-concede that Democratic
chances have improved in the two
years since President Eisenhower
captured the state decisively.
II Democrats racked up their big
sest primary vote In history Sept.
II and their biggest percentage Of
primary ballots since 1912. For
years they consistently have made
y better showing In the general
slection than In the primary. They
see no reason why they won't this
time.
Furthermore, there Is q percept-
ible, though by no means unani-
nous feeling around Wisconsin
that this Is q Democratic year in
this traditionally Republican state.
You find 1t in cities hurt by
employment, on farms where milk
streets Of country towns where
cash registers jingle bit less mer-
Rily.
Of course, there still are some
highly prosperous farmers and
merchants.
But at this stage Of the election
eering, what the sentiment seems
to add up to that the Demo
Gratis are likely 10 keep the two
House seats they now have and
perhaps yank from the Republicans
one or two Of the eight the COP
now holds.
Whether Wisconsin voters will
tap Republican Gov. Walter J.
K0hler on the shoulder Nov. 2 and
tell him he's through is another
question. The people are more
stirred up over national than state
issues, in spite of attempts Of Koh-
lers Democratic rival, William
Proxmire, to tie the two together.
For that and other reasons, the |
consensus Of professional politi-
clans and political rail birds Is that
odds are on Kohler for third two.
year term, but by a much smaller
margin than in 1852.
There isn't any Senate contest |
This year. Joseph r. Mccarthy |
isn't much of an issue, if he is one |
ct all, in his home state.
The big issues are economic ones |
centering around spotty unemploy-
ment and spotty discomfort |
among farmers.
milwaukee has IN estimated 90 |
90 or more unemployed, and NIL |
waukee normally is Democratic |
and casts about two fifths Of the
states total vote.
Something like . third II the vote
d from farms and small towns
dependent on the trade Of farmers. |
Nine tenths Of Wisconsin forming
10 dairying. and the Eisenhower
administration has applied it's stiff
est cut in price supports TO dairy
products. Il =
some uairymen are crying dis
elimination" and complaining !
about smaller milk checks. Pro. |
tests are particularly pronounced |
In the northern part Of the state |
where farms are more of q mar
ginal nature. The southeast Is an
area Of richer, more diversified
agriculture and the southwest is
corn and hog country.
Democrats are banking on dis
satisfaction among farmers and la
Dor, plus inertia on the part Of Re-
politicians who favored the late Sen.
Robert A. Taft of Ohio for the
COP presidential nomination in
1852. Key Republicans concede
there is some oot-dragging by pro-
TAFT people. But they contend the
enemy camp is overestimating and
Iiisrepresenting the dairy and job
issues.
Even some Democrats who say
Proxmire has a chance for the
governorship believe the odds are
that Kohler win get q third term.
And the COP contends the Demo-