Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-10
The Political Min
New York Republicans
Seek Lehman Opponent
Democrats Moy Run Wagner
If Senator Decides to Retire
The Political Min
By GouId Lincoln

BY 6ould Lincoln
New York Republicans and New York
Democrats are doing a powerful lot Of
political thinking and maneuvering with
1856 in mind. The first problem the
Republicans have-and an important
one-is the choice of a candidate for
the Senate. If the COP. is to control
the upper house of Congress in the 85th
take this Senate seat from the Demo-
Gratis in next years elections. 1t is held
now by Senator Herbert H. Lehman,
veteran New Dealer.
A number of potential candidates for
the Republican senatorial nomination
are under discussion. First and fore
most is Attorney General Jacob ]. ia
Wits. Javits, a former member Of
the House, defeated Franklin D.
Roosevelt. jr., in the State elections last
November. AS one top New York Re-
publican put it-he does not want to
be quoted-Mr. Javits can have the
senatorial nomination If he wants it.
The question really is-does Mr.. JavitS
wish to run for the Senate next year
or does he prefer to wait until 1858
and make bid for Governor of New
York? This is something Mr.. JavitS
himself will have to answer.
Heating Mentioned.
If Mr.. Javits is not in the senatorial
race, Representative Kenneth B. Keat.
ing of Rochester may be much in the
picture. Mr.. Heating is serving his
fifth term as member of the House
from New York's 18th congressional
district. A sergeant in World War I,
when he was 18 years old, he was a
colonel in World War II, with three
years service overseas, in both the
European and Asiatic theaters, with
three battle stars, with the Legion Of
Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster and the
Order of the British Empire. He is
now brigadier general in the reserve.
Others who are being given considera-
ton include Oswald Heck, Speaker of
the Assembly and Republican State
Senate Leader Walter Mahoney. The
last two, however, are believed to be
more interested in 1858 gubernatorial
nomination.
The Republicans in New York are at
present undergoing a Shakedown-the
kind of thing which happens when a
top, dominating leader of a political
party is suddenly out of politics and
back in private life. For years former
Gov. Thomas E. Dewey was such a
leader. He took himself out last fall,
declining to run for reelection. Sena-
tor Ives, who became the gubernatorial
candidate, remains today the titular
head of the party. Along with him as
in1nnrfont 6oIIrpS in ho opfv
ization are Republican State Chairman
Judson Morehouse and Republican Ma
tional Chairman Leonard w. Hall and
the Republican legislative leaders. They
expect to get strong working organ
ization for the campaign next year
and they express confidence they can
win the Lehman Senate seat.
Democrats Problem.
Democratic political thinking in New
York runs along two lines: First, whom
to nominate for the Senate. Second, is
Gov. w. Averell Harriman's hat to be
thrown in the ring for the partys pres
idential nomination? 1t Is generally
agreed that Senator Lehman can have
the denomination if he wants it, He will
be rs years old year from now, and
n when he begins new siX-year term
If he should be reelected. Not many
Senators voluntarily retire, however,
for age. If Senator Lehman should take
that step. Mayor Bob Wagner of New
York City would be in all probability
the Democratic choice The Repub-
licanS admit that Mr.. Wagner would
be tough man to defeat-perhaps
more difficult than Senator Lehman.
Gov Hartman, who has scarcely had
time to warm the Governors chair in
Albany, is now regarded not as po-
tential candidate for the Democratic
presidential nomination but as an &C
tual candidate. The Democratic boss of
New York, Carmine De Sapio, leader
of Tammany and Secretary of State
under Gov. Harriman's appointment,
engineered Gov. HarTiman's nomina-
ton and election for Governor. The
same DeSapio succeeded in putting Mr..
Wagner in as Mayor-and in the elm
nation of Franklin D. Roosevelt, jr. as
factor in State politics, at least for
the present. He would like to put Gov.
Hartman in the White House, it is
said. According to reports, Gov. Har-
riman would like it himself, although
he has said in the past he was for the
denomination of Adlai Stevenson. That,
however. is easy to get around. par
ticularly should the party leaders
decide that it would be bad idea to
renominate the man who had been de-
feated in the presidential race of 1852.
Also. it's next year or never for Gov.
Hartman to run for President. He will
be IS years old in November, 1956-and
SO years old in November 1860. Repub-
licans as we'll as Democrats are more
and more expecting drive to get Gov.
Hartman the nomination next year.