Forcing Down a Plum

The Republican Party last week demonstrated the way to force-feed a U.S. Senator with a patronage plum. The reluctant Senator: Idaho Republican Henry Dworshak. The plum: a new federal judgeship in Idaho.

Idaho's other Senator, Republican Herman Welker, created the job by writing it into a judiciary committee bill. Then he began to push for the appointment of his old campaign manager, Fred Taylor. Since the Eisenhower Administration owes nothing to Welker, who often bolts party ranks on important votes, Attorney General Herbert Brownell asked Senior Senator Dworshak to name a man for the job. Dworshak startled everyone by insisting that 1) Idaho did not need another judge, 2) he did not want another judge, 3) he would not sponsor anyone for the job. Meantime, Welker kept pressuring Brownell, hinting that he would block the Justice Department's legislative program if Taylor was not appointed.

Finally, Brownell asked National Chairman Leonard Hall to reason with Dworshak. The Senator's answer was the same: a flat no. He was convinced that by filling the job he would please only one man and offend many. At one point Dworshak exploded that he would not change his stand even if this meant that the G.O.P. high command would not support him this year. Soothed Deputy Attorney General William Rogers: "Of course we're going to help you." Snapped Dworshak: "Yes, by holding my head under water."

After Taylor's name went to the Senate and was sent to a special judiciary subcommittee, Dworshak made one last try. He told the subcommittee he could not, of course, brand good Republican Taylor "personally obnoxious," but he did not want the job filled. Nevertheless, the subcommittee promptly approved Taylor's nomination. Last week, as Dworshak sat glumly by, Taylor's appointment was approved by the full Senate.

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