Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-16
Rock-ribbed Democrats

popular, as also is Frank M. Cofin,
the first Democrat to win a Maine
congressional seat since 1894. Both
are moderates. and both repeatedly
reminded the voters during the
campaign that the issues were all
State issues, with no national issues
involved.
Mr.. Stevenson and out-of-State
Democrats stayed out of the fray.
Mr.. Muskie, though he attended the
convention in Chicago, was con-
spicuously absent from television
screens during the conclave. Since
his election two years ago, he has
rather pointedly refrained from
identifying himself with his party
nationally Another factor. a small
one. might have been the recent
drop in potato prices, which are ex-
pected to recover somewhat by
November.
Finally, Republicans can remind
themselves that it is generally con-
ceded that President Eisenhower is
far in front of his party in voting
strength. and Mr.. Eisenhower's
name was not on the ballot in
Maine, as it will be in the other AZ
States on November 6.
All in all. the Maine vote would
seem not SO much to indicate an
Eisenhower defeat in November as
to point, to the likelihood Of q
Democratic controlled Congress.
Eyes on AIosko
Even more of weathervane than
Maine may be Alaska, which will
elect its congressional delegate and
territorial Senate and House on
October g..
For 40 years Alaska has been an
accurate political barometer, pre-
dieting the presidential outcome
nationally. For instance, in 1852,
when Mr.. Eisenhower was swept
into the White House and the Re-
publicans captured Congress, Alaska
had elected Republican majority
IN its Legislature and the winning
margin of its Democratic Delegate
to Congress, E. L. Bartlett, was
trimmed to 56.6 per cent, compared
with 72.6 per cent in 1850. But in
1854. when the Democrats sub
sequently regained control of Con-
gress, Alaska returned its Legisla-
ture to Democratic control and Mr..
Bartlett breezed in easily with 1873
per cent of the vote.
Popularity Contest
Last week there were also en-
couraging signs for the Democrats
from another corner of the Nation.
In Washington primaries Demo-
cratic Senator Warren Magnuson,
won decisive victory over Gov.
Arthur Langlie, who is trying TO
unseat him, in what amounted to
popularity" contest. Running
unopposed for the Democratic
nomination, Senator Magnuson
gathered I36,500 more votes than
Gov. Langlie, who also had no OPP
ponent for the G. o. P. nomination.
Gov. Langlie. who keynoted the
Republican convention, conceded
that if he is to win in November,
many voters must change their
sympathies before then. Two Demo-
cratic gubernatorial candidates also
ran far head Of the two Republicans
who hope to succeed Gov. Langlie.
In Washington, both parties hold
open primaries, allowing voters to
cast Republican and Democratic
ballots.
New York Chooses
DemocratS-and some conserva-
tive Republicans-also believe that
the complexion Of the two candi-
dates chosen Monday to seek the
Senate seat being vacated by Demo-
cratic Senator Herbert Lehman
gives the Democrats more of an
edge than they had before.
Both candidates, the Democrats
Mayor Robert Wagner Of New
York and Republican Attorney
General Jacob Javits, are Of the
same liberal persuasions. Upstate
New York Republicans who earlier
were backing j. Raymond Nc
Govern. former State controller,
had warned in full-page newspaper
advertisements that the selection
of Mr.. JavitS would give voters no
choice between conservative and
a liberal candidate.
But at the State convention on
Monday, the breach was closed,
at least at the top level, by Mr..
McGovern himself, who put Mr..
Javits' name in nomination.
Wiley Downs Davis
Wisconsin provided some consola-
ton for the O. o. p. but certainly
no thrills on Tuesday when Re-
publican voters renominated inter-
nationalist Senator Alexander
Wiley. down-the-line supporter