Evening star., 1948-10-19
Acuff, Reece Putting On
Top Campaign Show
Smoky Mountain Boys Liven Two
Tennessee Races
The Political Mil
By Gould Lincoln

tennessee NaCSS
By Gould Lincoln
KNOXVILLE, Tenn, Oct. 19.-The greatest
show in the 1948 political campaign any.
where is put on daily in Tennessee by the
Republican team of Roy Acuff, candidate
for Governor and Carroll Reece, candidate for
Senator, here in Tennessee Acuff, nationally
known radio entertainer sings and fiddles with
his nine-member Smoky Mountain Boys" and
Mr.. Reece, former member Of Congress and
former Republican national chairman joins
Acuf in the speaking program-and OCCASION
ally does a jig.
1t is estimated the show has been seen and
heard already by nearly half million people
since 1t got under way August 30 1t has al.
ready visited 70 counties, and is still on the
way. In Memphis, 1t drew a crowd of 10000
which is some turnout for political meeting,
even with singing attached. It's going back to
Memphis for a return engagement before the
campaign ends, hoping to gain further favor
among the voters Of Democratic Boss Ed
Crump's Shelby County.
Aided by Democratic Split.
Tennessee hasn't had Republican Senator
since Reconstruction Days-if it had one then
1t has had only one Republican Governor, and
he was elected on a coalition ticket following a
desperate row among the Democrats years ago.
Show or no show, neither of these candidates
for Office would have chance today were it
not for the fact that the Democrats tore them
selves wide open in another intra- party battle
this year. plus the added fact that a great num-
ber OF Democrats cannot stomach the head Of
their national ticket, President Truman on ac-
count of his civil rights program and his out
standing New Dealishness.
The popularity of the show and the crowds
1t draws has thrown scare into the Demo-
crats although they feel that their candidates
are still way out in 'front.' They contend the
crowds 60 to see the show merely for enter
tainment-free entertainment-and that not
many votes are influenced by it. One of the
Democratic leaders in this section of the Stats
insists that former Gov. Gordon Browning, can
didate for Governor, and Representative Ke-
fauver candidate for Senator, will win by 150,-
900 and 100000 vote margins respectively.
This sounds excessive and even Republicans say
that Mr.. Acuff and Mr.. Reece have much more
difficult roads than has Gov Dewey. Gov Dewey
has the advantage of breach in Democratic
ranks caused by the Dixiecrat presidential cam
didate, Gov. Thurmond of South Carolina.
They point, however, to fierce Democratic ma
tional troubles over both senatorial and gub-
ernatorial nominations and take comfort.
Wrote of How He Beat Crump.
The Crump faction, dominant for years in
Democratic politics, supported Judge John E.
Mitchell for Senator, and incumbent Gov.
Jim Nance McCord for the gubernatorial nomi-
nation. Running against Judge Mitchell were
Senator Stewart and Representative Kefauver
and Mr.. Kefauver won. Former Gov.
Browning won the gubernatorial nomination
by a considerable margin Representative
Kefauver was nominated for the Senate by
about 40 per cent of the total vote cast. He
worked like a beaver to lick the Crump
machine and has recently added fuel to the
flames by writing an article for Cclliers on
how he turned the trick.
Mr.. Crump's predicament is that he has
always been a Democrat, and while he has
come out for Gov. Thurmond for President
who also is a Democrat-his hands have
seemed to be tied so far as the senatorial and
gubernatorial races are concerned. What he
may do privately is another matter.
Old line Democrats in Tennessee don't like
Representative Kefauver, a 100 per cent New
Dealer, and many of them will not vote for
him. On the other hand, organized labor is
going to town for Representative Kefauver
and has no use whatever for Mr.. Reece, o
conservative Republican. Further, there are
factional troubles for the Republicans, too.
Representative Jennings of the End Congress.
sional District a strong Dewey man, was op-
posed for denomination by another Republican
who was supposed to be Representative Reeces
candidate-and Mr.. Reece was a Taft sup
porter. Representative Jennings won out. II
Gov. Dewey is elected Representative Jennings
will be principal dispenser of patronage in
Tennessee.
Acuff Was Crack Athlete. rs
The Republican candidate for Governor is
something out of book. Son of Baptist
preacher who afterward became judge, Mr..
Acuff was high school athlete. He was good
enough on the diamond to be offered try-out
with the New York Yankees A sunstroke,
before he had his chance, knocked out pro-
fessional bali playing for him. During his
convalescence, his mother bought him fiddle.
He made enough progress to open a medicine
show after he was well again. From that he
went to a Knoxville radio station and began
to sing. That was the answer. He has made
fortune out of radio, the movies and the
sale of millions of records
Mr. Acuff has had an audience of hundreds Of
thousands in Tennessee. He says today: I'm
running for Governor-and I'm running like
the Wabash Cannon Bali and the Night Train
to Memphis ttwo of his most popular songs|
rolled into one."