The Evening Star (June 14, 1946)
Midwest Republicans predict House rule in next Congress
Leaders are confident of political turnover in Senate as well
By Gould Lincoln, Star staff correspondent
CHICAGO – Midwest Republicans are confident the party will elect a majority of the House in the next Congress, and are gaining confidence they will be able to bring a political turnover in the Senate, too.
Here in Illinois, the leader predict a minimum gain of two in the state’s delegation in the next House, a probable gain of five, and a possible gain of seven. If their hopes are realized, Illinois will by itself do much to bring about the necessary gain of 27 seats in the House for a majority. They express great confidence they will be able to win the congressional seat-at-large.
From their point of view, the people are not only ready for a change, but they are going to have it. They feel the many and various troubles of the ordinary citizen growing out of bureaucratic control, plus the many and various troubles of the Truman administration, will send the voters to the polls next fail ready to vote Republican.
Surrender to labor seen
In this part of the country, which is largely agricultural, President Truman’s handling of the labor situation has been a dud. He gained much acclaim when he appeared before Congress and made a radio address to the country, prior to the settling of the railroad strike. His veto of the Case bill, however, lost him whatever advantage he may have gained. They look upon his action as a complete reversal of form, due to his surrender to labor pressure and the demands of some of his political advisers.
The unprecedented row in the Supreme Court brought about by Justice Jackson’s sensational attack upon Justice Black, also was likely to be made a talking point by the Republicans during the coming political campaign.
Further, lack of success in the administration’s handling of foreign relations up to date, has given the Democrats a blackeye.
It is true that in states of the Midwest work is plentiful and unemployment rare, and that the farmers are expecting good crops. But the failure of administration to get industry back into greater peacetime production in the last year, with consequent shortages of many kinds of consumer goods, is having its political effect. And the continuance of high taxes, with no prospect of reduction in rates for some time to come, is one of the greatest liabilities the Democrats face.
Uprisings elsewhere
Members of the Republican National Committee’s Executive Committee, which held a meeting Wednesday in Chicago, brought reports of a Republican uprising in other parts of the country as well as in the Midwest.
In the senatorial field, the Republican leaders speak with increased confidence of carrying Idaho, California, New Mexico, Wyoming and Missouri, in addition to such states as Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and North Dakota, which have been recognized as strongly Republican.
Illinois has no senatorial election this year. Gov. Green is expected to seek renomination in the primaries of 1948. with every prospect of being successful. While the leaders here do not discuss for publication the presidential and vice-presidential prospects for 1948, they have their eye on Gov. Green for a place on the national ticket.
Among Republican organization leaders, former Gov. Bricker of Ohio has at present the inside track for the presidential nomination. They make no secret of their pleasure over the setback which former Gov. Stassen of Minnesota met in the defeat of Gov. Griswold of Nebraska in his race for the Republican senatorial nomination. Gov. Griswold’s support of the proposed $3,750,000,000 loan to Britain harmed him in his race against Sen. Butler as much as any one single issue. The loan is not popular in the Middle West, and it was said that probably 80 or 90 per cent of the Nebraska voters were against it.
Serious challengers
If Mr. Bricker is to have a serious challenger for the presidential nomination, the leaders believe it will come from Gov. Warren of California or from Gov. Dewey of New York, provided the latter is re-elected in the Empire State next November. Gov. Warrens spectacular run in the California primaries, capturing both the Democratic and Republican nominations, has aroused great interest in the Californian. They realize that Mr. Bricker must also make some arrangement with Sen. Taft about the presidential nomination, if he is to have the backing of the Ohio delegation in the 1948 national convention. But they are confident that such an arrangement will be made and that Ohio Republicans will not be split by a hot primary fight.
On the Democratic side of the presidential picture for 1948, President Truman looms as the only probable candidate. Democrats insist he will become stronger as time goes on. They see no one else in prospect, if the president stands for renomination as he is expected to do. They are basing their hopes on improved industrial and domestic conditions and on a reunion with organized labor forces, despite the recent criticism of the President by labor leaders.
The only other presidential possibility I have heard mentioned among the Democrats, should Mr. Truman not be the nominee, is Gov. Lausche of Ohio, who is himself a candidate for re-election this year.