The Fence Mender

Democrats have made the Massachusetts economy the main issue of the state's political campaign this year, and the loudest critic of Republican policy is Senatorial Candidate Foster Furcolo, who last week accused the G.O.P. of "taking food, clothing and shelter from the working-man." Furcolo, who faces uphill going against Republican Senator Leverett Saltonstall, complained that "nothing has been doled out to the little man, who has become the forgotten man."

Against the Furcolo fright talk, Republicans offer some facts. Item: Massachusetts' nonagricultural employment is up 3.1% from 1946-49, the last peacetime years under the Democrats. Item: the average unemployment-claim load for 1953-54 is 100,000 against 186,000 for 1949-50. Item: since March, the state shows a net gain of 31 manufacturing companies, representing an employment increase of some 10,000 persons. Item: during the same period, 95 new plants were started, and there were 63 major additions to existing plants.

Lev Saltonstall has conducted an effective defense against Furcolo on the economic front, and has campaigned tirelessly for months. Even when in Washington, Saltonstall never for an instant permitted his eye to stray from the Massachusetts political scene. His single-minded determination to be re-elected led him, whenever it was humanly possible, to straddle or ignore all the issues that might get him in trouble back home, e.g., he has emitted hardly a peep for or against Joe McCarthy. Such tactics probably kept him ahead of Furcolo, and a few days ago, Saltonstall got another boost--from the state's most popular Democrat, Senator John F. Kennedy.

On crutches from a serious spinal ailment, Kennedy appeared for a television program with Furcolo and Robert Murphy, the Democratic candidate for governor. Furcolo asked Kennedy to join in an attack naming Saltonstall; Kennedy declined. There followed a heated, off-camera argument between Kennedy and Furcolo, who have not been friendly since their days together in the House. Jack Kennedy ended by editing a personal endorsement of Furcolo out of his script and saying pointedly: "I wish you, Bob Murphy, and the entire Democratic ticket every success in November."

Kennedy is a big name in Massachusetts politics; so is Saltonstall. If Kennedy were going all out for him, Furcolo might have a better chance. As it is, Lev Saltonstall should win.

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