Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-01-04
pescribed Is WiIllng.

SACe0AAs
Described IS willing.
Oregon Democrats, it is reported here,
will welcome Senator Morse with open
arms. 1t is true there are conservative
Democrats in Oregon who have no use
for Mr.. Morse. But they are few and
far between--indeed, one Oregon DEM
ocrat estimated that the anti-Morse
Democrats number no more than per
cent Of the whole party membership.
Further, they. the Oregon Democrats.
appear very willing to nominate Senator
Morse as their candidate for the Senate
certainly at this time, It is always
possible that before the Oregon primary
election rolls around next year, some
ambitious Democrat, or Democrats.
may decide to contest the senatorial
nomination. But even should such
contest arise. the belief Is that Senator
Morse would be overwhelmingly the
victor.
AS q matter Of fact. when Mr.. Neu-
berger was elected last November, SEN
ator Morse won the first round in his
fight for reelection in 1868. Had Mr..
Neubereer been defeated, Senator
Morse's own prestige would have sui.
fered, But Mr.. Neuberger won by a
couple Of thousand votes - the FIRST
Democrat to be elected to the Senate
in Oregon in 40 years. The new Senator,
q liberal Democrat. apparently has the
same political philosophy as Senator
Morse, It is argued now that. because
Mr. Neuherger was able to win, Senator
Morse will be invincible next year; that
Senator Morse has great personal
following, including Republicans. Dem
ocrats and independents, which enabled
him to win In 1860 with q lead of 260,-
600 votes over his Democratic opponent.
This may or may not be true. In 1850.
Senator Morse was matched against
political nobody, Further, the Repub-
licans were making gains throughout
the country In that election. II Is freely
predicted now that the Republicans will
make q desperate effort to get rid Of
Senator Morse ~ and to beat him.
whether he runs as q Democrat or as
an independent. They look on him as
a deserter. who by his single vote IN the
Senate on organization In the new
Congress Ia taking control Of the Sem
ate and its committees away from the
q. o. p. and placing 1t In the lap Of
the enemy. II all the forecasts are true,
it will be the bitterest political battle
in many years.
Governor Might Oppose.
Speculation has IL that Paul Patter-
son, who has just been elected Governor
Of Oregon, win be the Republican non-
inee against Senator Morse next year.
Governor Patterson was acting Gov
ernor. having taken over when Gov.
Mckay resigned to become Gen. Eisen-
hower's Secretary Of the Interior, Re-
puhlicans are saying that Gov. Patter-
son will defeat Senator Morse; that he
Is popular, and II his administration
continues as good as II has been In the
past he will be the choice OF the voters.
There are other potential nominees for
the Senate Secretary Mckay himself,
although he has said he is disincliued
to run. He will be SO years old In 1885.
and he thinks that IL too old to take ON
six-year senatorial term Another DOS
sibility is Representative Walter Nor
hlad, who has had 10 years In the
House. Two others are State Senator
John Merrifeld Of Portland and former
State Senator Phil Hitchcock. also Of
Portland.
Senator Morses present identifica-
ton as an independent--and an inde-
pendent who makes 1t possible for the
Democrats 10 organize the incoming
aenate-giyes the Oregon Senator the
spotlight In Q big way. II. indeed. he
had already Joined the Democratic
Party. he would be Just one Of -
Democrats in the Senate. Why. indeed.
should he give up this stimulating POI
sition, particularly as he does not have
TO register as Democrat TO enter che
Democratic primary until well into
1852