A wide open battle over state offices seems certain when the Liberal Union meets tonight to endorse candidates for the November election. Supporters of Governor Paul A. Dever, Senator Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. '23 and Representative John F. Kennedy, Jr. '40 are ready to state their cases before the meeting. Many members believe the Liberal Union should make no gubernatorial endorsement at all.

Endorsement of Governor Adlai A. Stevenson for the presidency, however, should meet no opposition.

The Liberal Union supported Dever in 1948, but feeling against him has been high ever since the Governor signed the McCarthy-Dorgan "anti-subversive" bill last fall. The group had presented the Governor a petition against the bill signed by one thousand students, only to find that Dever had already signed the bill in secret.

Resignation Threatened

One H.L.U. member, who desired his name be withheld, said he would resign from the organization if it backs Dever this year. Another, Martin H. Needler '54, called Dever "a bad choice between two evils," and suggested the group endorse neither he nor his opponent, Christian A. Herter '15.

Stanley Tobin '53, Liberal Union member who is also president of the Young Democrats, says he will urge support of Dever.

Frank I. Goodman '54, H.L.U. vice-president, said he will lead the Lodge supporters at the meeting. "Lodge has shown himself a man of stature and independence," Goodman said. "The best thing we can do for American liberalism is to leave it growing room in Republican soil."