Minority Preferred

A second question raised by Taft's death was: Will the Democrats take control of the Senate?

Ohio's Democratic Governor Frank Lausche is expected to appoint a Democrat to Taft's seat. That would make the Senate count 48 Democrats, 47 Republicans and Wayne Morse. Among the possible Lausche appointees mentioned was Toledo's pepper-tongued Mike Di Salle, former Director of Price Stabilization.

Not long after the names began to roll, a complication arose in Ohio. From Washington U.S. Senator John Bricker telephoned a G.O.P. leader and proposed that the Republican-controlled legislature, about to adjourn, stay in Columbus long enough to change the state law on filling U.S. Senate vacancies. The legislature could call for a special election in November. With that to mull over, the legislators agreed to stay around until late this week.

But no matter how the vacancy is filled, there is little chance that organization of the Senate will be affected. Texas' Senator Lyndon Johnson, the Democratic floor leader, and his advisers decided before Bob Taft died that they want to keep their present minority role through 1954. It enables them to maneuver more freely, supporting the White House on some proposals and opposing it on others; it keeps the party unified, and relieves Democrats of responsibility for a legislative program.

Most of all. it keeps them off a spot: in the 1954 election, the Republicans will not be able to blame the Democrats for blocking an Eisenhower program.