Like the crisp wind that blows through the mountains and the powder snow that drifts across the plains, politics in the west is refreshing and unusually clean.

Because of the small populations and the vast areas they are scattered over, political machines have never gained a strong foothold in the western states, thus eliminating much of the unpleasantness associated with big city elections.

Wyoming governor J.J. Hickey demonstrated this two years ago by resigning the governorship and appointing himself Senator when Republican Keith Thomson died shortly after being elected to the Senate.

Hickey is now engaged in a tough election battle, and Democrats are concerned about losing his seat. Former Gov. Milward Simpson, whom Hickey defeated for the governorship in 1958, is trying for a political comeback and has decided on a very conservative approach to national affairs. Although no flaming liberal, reluctant New Frontiersman Hickey presents Wyoming voters some contrast with Simpson's Goldwaterism.

Hickey's campaign effort was severely hampered by a heart attack last month; Simpson, while sending condolences, kept right on running at a rapid pace. He appears to be trailing right now, but a lot can happen in Wyoming before election day.

Both men have political scars from their terms as governor, and these could prove decisive in the conflict. Simpson's advantage of being a Republican (Wyoming voted decisively for Nixon despite the efforts of Ted Kennedy) may be neutralized by hostilities he aroused with his anti-gambling program and a controversy over highways that helped defeat him in '58. The Cuba crises should help Hickey, but only slightly. He still faces criticism for his self-appointment to the Senate.

Slightly to the south another hot senate race has attracted attention. Colorado's Democratic Senator John Carroll is being seriously challenged by Rep. Peter Dominick. The contest is one of Carroll's strong liberalism and experience against Dominick's conservatism and sex appeal.

The smooth-talking Yalie Republican may make large inroads in Denver, which could prove disastrous to Carroll. Polls in the state give conflicting verdicts, but the dominant impression is that Carroll is trailing--and not picking up much

ground.

Democrats seem much safer in Arizona, where ageless Carl Hayden, 85, dean of the Senate, faces Goldwaterite Evan Mechem. Arizona may like Barry and his politics, but Hayden is a state institution.

Senator from the first day of Arizona statehood, Hayden is a permanent part of the state's political structure, and it is hardly likely he will topple. Even Goldwater has remained neutral.

While the effects of Cuba are still unknown, Republicans are reasonably optimistic about the chances of gaining at least one Senate seat in the Rocky Mountains. With luck, they could get two