Where I Stand 1956: Hank Greenspun: Nevada’s election of Bible has impact in Washington

Friday, Aug. 18, 2000 | 8:50 a.m.

Note to readers: This column by Sun founder Hank Greenspun appeared on Nov. 8, 1956, in the aftermath of President Eisenhower's second consecutive electorial victory over Adlai Stevenson.

We wuz robbed.

It just isn't possible for any candidate endorsed by the Sun to lose so overwhelmingly. I think Adlai Stevenson should ask for a recount. If he could pick up about 5 million votes, a friend of mine may save some money.

This fellow took Stevenson with 4 million votes at even money and he thought he was stealing something. He had the money practically spent right up till the time that the results came in and made him a victim instead of a burglar.

I think 9 million votes are a little difficult to overcome with a recount, but it might not be a bad idea for one of the local races.

Sometimes it almost seems more advantageous to buck the trend than go along with the crowds. If the Sun endorsed Ike, we would have been unnoticed nationally because 62 percent of the newspapers in the country backed him and we would have been such a little pebble in a big ocean. But with only 15 percent of the press with Stevenson, ours comes to the attention of Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn, who heaped praise upon our independence of thought and action. I'd rather be in good with Mr. Sam than the president because who can tell when a fellow might need a friend and where anyone can go to the Capitol cloakroom and call the speaker from the floor, it might be a little difficult to get to the president.

I'm happy Clark County went for Stevenson and Kevauver. This is where Estes held some of his famous hearings and it was the only county in the state to go along with him. No harm at all in staying on the good side of a person who is in position to do some damage, so it's just as well the heart of the big gambling empire of the state made old Keef happy.

Nevada made the headlines in Washington, D.C., when the Star bannered "Democrats take control of the Senate with election of Alan Bible of Nevada.

Our little state seems to be playing a rather crucial role in affairs of the nation.

Four years ago, had Tom Mechling defeated Malone, the Senate would have gone Democratic. Instead, the election of Molly gave the Republicans control of the Congress instead of a split.

Two years ago, if Ernest Brown had won over Bible, the Senate would have gone Republican instead of Democratic and Eisenhower would have had no cooperation on the part of the Congress. As it is, the president got through more needed legislation under the Democrats than with his own party.

Nevada should feel cheered at the caliber of its candidates. I doubt whether any area in the country could find two more honest, conscientious legislators competing against each other than Bible and Young.

A real tight race developed up in Elko County in the Assembly, where Gene Evans, capable city editor of the Elko Daily Press, and Elko resident Jack Hunter tied for office with 2,283 votes each.

People as usual were confused over the propositions on the ballot. This is an actual occurrence: In a conversation between two men in front of a polling place, one stated he sure wanted that "Right to Work" bill off the books so he put the stamp on "No" to be darn sure it wouldn't be on! With all the speech-making and yelling on this question, it's easy to understand the confusion.

There is some speculation on the controversial "Right to Work" bill. Having appeared on the ballot three times ... can it come up again in two years or is there some stipulation that it would have to wait for the following election? Some say it might even have to be an eight-year period.

Good luck to the winners and better luck next time to the losers.

The best men do not always win in elections, and if some results don't change in a hurry the Clark County assembly race will be an excellent example of good men going down to defeat and undeserving ones being chosen to represent the people. Oh well. If that's what the people want, they'll get it, and in the neck, too.

It doesn't hurt to back a loser -- gives a person a chance to say "I told you so" when things go wrong. But where the future of the country is involved, I would much rather be wrong than have an opportunity to gloat.