OHIO: Q. & A.

• Share

In their key race for the U.S. Senate, Ohio's Democratic Governor Frank Lausche had blocked all the plunging attempts of Republican Incumbent George Bender to corner him for face-to-face de bate (TIME, Oct. 8). But last week Lausche arrived to make a "nonpolitical" speech to a group of Negro businessmen in Columbus—only to discover that George Bender was already on hand with the political question that had been puzzling Ohioans for months.

"I'd like him," cried Bender, "to tell you how he'd vote to organize the Senate if he were elected." It was a ticklish moment, for Lausche, who last June tempted Ohio's Republicans by implying that he would vote with the Republicans on Senate organization—and had since been calming Democrats by claiming that newsmen had distorted his words. But Frank Lausche, a master at appearing both things to both parties, was equal to the occasion. "I am," he replied, "a Democrat second and an American first. I will never hesitate to cross party lines when I think it will serve my country best."

All of which left Bender just as frustrated and Ohioans as puzzled as before.