The Hare &. the Tortoise

Oregon's Democratic Senator Wayne Morse leaned back in a chair, bristled his brows, compared himself with Edmund Burke and declared himself above politics: "I go where the facts lead, and if partisan politics don't go where they lead, then that's too bad." He grinned at Republican claims that he is the Senate's windiest member: "Reelect me and I'll make more speeches next session--there's so much to be said." He scoffed at reports that he might be in election trouble: "I know of no basis for such stories."

That same day, Republican Challenger Sigfrid ("Sig") Unander, 49, sat wearily in a Eugene hotel lobby, took off a shoe and displayed a steel arch support. "Take a look at the campaigner's best friend," he said. "I'm tired, and I've gained 15 pounds. It's those damned desserts they serve you before you get up to speak. You tell the lady sitting next to you that they're good, and she gets up and gets another one for you."

Opposites. Wispy, oh-so-waspy Wayne Morse, 62, and big, cautious Sig Unander are as different as two men can be. Morse is a blazing liberal; Unander is a rock-solid economic conservative. Morse is a maverick--he was a Republican, then a self-styled Independent before turning Democrat in 1954. Unander is a party regular--the scion of a wealthy lumber family, he is a former state treasurer and G.O.P. state chairman, served on the Federal Maritime Board during the Eisenhower Administration. Morse got off to a late campaign start, is now running like the wind. Unander has been campaigning steadily for two years. Morse is an emotional, highly effective stump speaker, dedicated to the constant use of the first person singular. Unander is an improving platform performer, but he still has a long way to go to match Morse.

Yet for all Unander's lack of color, most Oregonians agree that he is giving Morse the race of his life. He plugs away at Morse's gabbiness, chides Morse for leading the Senate filibuster against the Kennedy Administration's communications satellite bill this year, accuses Morse of supporting Kennedy's withdrawal of U.S. planes during the crucial moments of the Bay of Pigs invasion, charges Morse with a "performance gap" in failing to land Oregon its proper share of defense contracts.

Goodies. As for Morse, he says with pride that he has backed the Kennedy Administration 94% of the time, boasts that he is "bringing home to Oregon the highest amount for public works in history, except in 1951." He places the amount at $72 million--but in fact he almost talked his way out of the pork barrel. During the closing days of Congress, Morse objected to appropriating $10 million for a Government aquarium in Washington. As it happened, this was a pet project of Ohio Democrat Mike Kirwan, member of the public works subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee. Kirwan retaliated by knocking off the appropriations for three big Oregon public works projects. Morse speedily backed away, Kirwan got his aquarium and Oregon got its goodies.

Seeking his fourth term, Morse is getting some indirect help from Republican Governor Mark Hatfield. Unander ran un successfully against Hatfield in Oregon's 1958 Republican gubernatorial primary, made a lasting enemy of him. Hatfield, himself a cinch for reelection, has yet to announce his support of his ticketmate.

The race between Morse and Unander is a case of the hare against the tortoise. As usual, the hare is favored, but . . .

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