Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-03-29
Oreqon Produces
AWinner for G. O. P,

In 1856 he was elected Secre-
tary Of State-a post which has
tradltionally led to the governor
ship Of Oregon-at an hour when
Republican fortunes throughout
the West were fast declining.
The State, which had mysteri-
ously registered Democrat and
voted Republican for years, UNI
tremendously dumped the reign
ing party out of a United States
Senate seat. the governorship and
the Legislature. <
Personnel Popularity
Mark HATFIELD, undaunted.
wisely relied on his personal
popularity. In 1858, he crowded
out five other G. 0. P. nominees
for Governor.
Viewed generally as a liberal
Republican, he opposed intro
duction of the "right-to-work"
laws to Oregon and fought an
anti-picketing law. Both views
pleased labor.
On the other hand. he proposed
legislation to ease the tax burden
Of 'udustrv-a necessary step. he
said, to attract new business to a
State still suffering from recession.
In mid-campaign. he married
the daughter of a Portland long
shoreman in a ceremony as pub.
licized locally as that of Queen
Elizabeth. Otherwise. however.
there was little to distinguish the
campaign from any other-until
Senator Morse, Democrat of Ore
gon, dropped a bombshell only
days before election.
He charged that Mr.. Hatfield
had lied before a jury in a traffic
case 10 years ago. The candidate.
then a teen-ager, was the driver
of a car that struck and killed
youngster.
The speech, however-called a
"foul 1lth-hour attack" by one
Oregon editor-batkfired on Sen
ator Morse. Portland newspapers
were flooded with callers denounc-
ing the Senator. and Mr.. Hatfield's
Democratic opponent admitted
that there are lot of people
who resent this being brought up"
The public responded by hand
ing Mr.. Hatfield a laundering
victory despite a Democratic ma
jority of $1,000.
An Uphill Bottle
His party, however, failed to win
a majority in the Legislature, and
Gov. Hatfield has faced an uphill
battle for approval of his budget.
He faces the future with con-
fidence. however. surrounding
himself with brain trust" Of
appointed officials whose ages
range from 80 to 40. ....
II think we can give the State
the liberal, progressive leadership
IL n6cdS, Tie Sdlu.
The only surviving Republican
governor on the West Coast. he
receives an average of 80 requests
for speaking engagements in every
mail, many of them from nearby
States in aching need of a good
party pep talk.
A careful dresser, nearly six
feet tall. he is bright and eloquent
with the organizing ability of a
college administrator. He started
the Eisenhower band wagon roll
ing in Oregon in 1851, and is con-
sequently viewed with ardent hope
in Washington as the f1gurehead
who may lead the party to revival
in the West. He met with PreSi-
dent Eisenhower last week end in
that connection.
He feels no bitterness toward
Senator Morse, he says, but Ore
gon Republicans are girding for
battle in 1862. That's the year
when the senior Senator-once a
Republican himself - must sur
render his seat or be reelected.
That is also the year when Gov.
Hatfleld's term expires. Chances
are likely he'll be cunning for the
Senate-and the resulting cam
paign holds the promise of fire.
works.
mo question about it." one Re-
publican declared. "Thatll be the
battle of the century"