A Question of Decorum

In Nebraska tradition dictates that one U.S. Senator come from Omaha and one from outstate. For 14 years the Senator from Omaha was Republican Hugh Butler, and ever since World War II, Nebraska politicians based their calculations on his retirement or death. But he upset all of the carefully made plans by living to see two outstate Senators, Kenneth Wherry and Dwight Griswold, die in office. Then, in Bethesda Naval Hospital one night last week, Hugh Butler, at 76, died of a stroke.

Under the Door. His death, which came on the last day for filing in the primary elections, caused an unseemly scramble in Nebraska. Less than 90 minutes after Butler died, a Lincoln attorney representing fiery-eyed ex-Congressman Howard Buffett of Omaha knocked on the door of Secretary of State Frank Marsh's home in Lincoln, and asked Marsh to accept Buffett's filing for Butler's unexpired term. Secretary Marsh, holding that the deadline had passed when he locked his statehouse office at 5 p.m.. refused. Later that night, in the quiet darkness of the statehouse, Lincoln Public-Relations Man John Quinn carefully slipped his own filing under the door of Marsh's office.

Because of Marsh's ruling, Attorney General C. S. Beck told the G.O.P. and Democratic State Central Committees to name candidates for the Aug. 10 primary within three days. At week's end the committees named their men. For the Republicans: able, first-term Congressman Roman Hruska, 49, of Omaha. For the Democrats: James F. Green, 37, an Omaha lawyer known chiefly as a twice unsuccessful candidate for national commander of the American Legion.

An hour later Buffett filed an appeal with the State Supreme Court, left the G.O.P. thoroughly confused. Meanwhile, Republican Governor Robert B. Crosby broke tradition by naming an interim replacement for Butler (to serve until November) even before the Senator's funeral could be held. His choice: Republican Sam Reynolds, Omaha coal dealer.

Three Senators. All this means that Nebraskans, for the first time in history, will elect three U.S. Senators in November. One will finish the remaining four years of Butler's term. One will finish the last two months of the expiring term left vacant by Griswold's death this spring (now filled by Interim Appointee Eva Bowring). The third will begin a new six-year term as successor to Senator Bowring's successor, whoever that may be.

As the hectic week ended, Governor Crosby, a candidate for the full Senate term, summed up the situation. The "bitterly unfortunate" state election law, he said, had forced Nebraskans to act as though they were "lacking in decorum."

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