Primaries: Legitimacy Restored

In the course of nine years as a Cleveland judge, four as the city's mayor, ten as Governor of Ohio and twelve as a U.S. Senator, Frank John Lausche achieved a pre-eminence in his state's political pantheon unmatched since the demise of Robert Taft. Lausche also be came crusty, overbearing and — more heinous yet to the Democratic stalwarts who had so long voted him into office —often treated his party like the bastard at the wedding. Last week his inde pendence bore him bitter fruit: Ohio's Democratic voters kicked him out.

Senator Lausche, 72, had been considered unbeatable. Even...