Nominations by the Clock

Since everyone in Massachusetts knew that blue-blooded Senator Leverett Saltonstall and Governor Christian Herter would be endorsed for reelection, Republicans meticulously printed a timetable ("10 a.m. come to order, 10:50 a.m. nominate Herter . . .") for their pre-primary convention. Last week, as the convention met at Worcester, both Saltonstall and Herter were nominated only minutes behind schedule, and the convention fell behind the clock badly only once because of a squabble over a nomination' for state treasurer.

Such Republican precision contrasted sharply with the hectic Democratic convention at Worcester the week before. It took the Democrats twelve hours and five ballots to nominate State Representative Robert F. Murphy for governor. For Senator they took only one ballot to endorse State Treasurer Foster Furcolo, who carried two distinctions: 1) a onetime favorite of Americans for Democratic Action, he had repudiated A.D.A.; and 2) although his mother came from Ireland, his Italian name violated the Massachusetts Democratic orthodoxy that senatorial candidates should have an Irish name.

Herter is expected to beat Murphy hands down next fall. But Saltonstall has reason to be worried about fast-rising Foster Furcolo.

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