Diario las Américas., 1958-01-26

WIN
FLORIDA SENATE RACE, 10
- Our Senior Senator, Spessard
Holland, will run for reelection in
1858. An interesting question that
comes up regularly these days is:
What are Hollands chances? Will
he have any opposition? What sort
of a campaign will it be-"
Any answer that we might have
in Washington to those questions
would be put together from four
sources. (1) Our mail - both from
friends and editors who drop notes
our way from time to time. (2)
Florida visitors who come to Wash
ington. Good topic of converse
ton over a cup of coffee.) (3)
Listening to the opinions of other
members of the Florida Congress
sional Delegation. (They do talk
about it, nv Reading the Florida
newspapers. And here is what we
see over the top of our typewriter.
Most people agree that there are
some under-currents of dissatisfac-
ton with Holland here and there
throughout the State. 1t comes
principally from a small core Of
die-hard, new-deal, ultra liberal
Democrats. Consensus seems to be
that this group would put up a
man against Holland if they could
find someone they thought could
beat him. On the other side of
the table, his friends like to point
with pride" to the Senator's re-
cord. Some of the things they
point to:
Hollands four years as Cover
nor and 10 years as Senator = II
years in high public office. Seven
teen years in which to build thou
sands of strong personal friend
ships. lizard to beat.)
His middle of the road" polite
al posture. When the chips are
down he's a loyal Democrat. But
his voting record is based on his
conservative convictions rather
than along pure party lines.
His positions on the powerful
Senate Appropriations Committee
"a spot that requires years of SEN
iority to VIM and as third ranking
Democrat on the Senate Agricul
ture Committee important to Flo
rida). Holland has pulled many
rabbit out of the hat in obtaining
money for Florida waterways AND
flood control projects.
His consistent work for the ci
trus and other Florida agricultur
al industries. His fight for the
tidelands Act. This may eventually
mean millions of dollars for the
State Golfers.
His more recent record on Sc
gregation. Although not a "rabid'
race-baiter, Holland spoke out
more boldly and pointedly on the
subject in the Senate than any
one other than Georgia's Dick Rus
sell.
The doctors and dentists viii
choose him over an ultra-liberal
the retail merchants and hotel PEG
pie couldn't find a better hero
Who would run against Holland
Maybe ex-senator Claude Pepper
He acts like he's running now
But, most people think he'd hav'
trouble ra;c:~n the necessary mo
ney and many of his former back
ers are also Hollands close friends
In a race between the two = al
most to a man - these voter
would would stick to Holland, tn
incumbent. Another name men
toned is that of Ted David, of Mis
mi. The most he could expect from
a race with Holland would be
lot of hard work and some state
wide publicity.
In fact, anybody who could ru1
a decent race against Hollan
would have to be already widel
known, have above the averag
political acumen and campaign alb
lily. He would have to be able t
raise about half a million buck
campaign money. He'd have to b
mighty sharp.
In our opinion, anybody VIII
is that smart also would have to
much sense to risk his politics
future in a race against Holland.