Evening star., 1950-04-27
The Political Mil
Both Pepper, Smothers
See Victory in Election
Outcome Uncertain in Florido
Roee for Senote Sect
BY Gould Lincoln

JACKSONVILLE, Fla, April IL
Vote American" is the Smathers slogan
in his campaign for the Democratic sena.
torial nomination against Senator Pep.
per. which terminates with the primary
election next Tuesday.
The S6-year-old former Marine. Repre-
sentative George ArmiStead Smathers.
by implication at least. charges that q
vote Tor Mr.. Pepper would be un-Ameri-
can. IN his campaign Mr.. Smathers has
attempted 10 line up his opponent with
the "Pinks"-if not the "Reds"-because
OF Senator Peppers former friendly as
Sociation with Henry Wallace. because
OF his frequent addresses before so-called
CommuniSt-front organization, and be-
cause of his praise OF Stain. after an
interview with the Soviet dictator some
years ago.
The Smathers campaign. bringing in
the Communist issue so strongly, is be-
ing watched outside of Florida as well as
in the State. and by Republicans as we'll
as Democrats. II victory should perch on
the Smathers banner. it may be q tip-on
for other campaigns
Peppers Reply to Charges.
Senator Pepper. however, has done his
~NSS
friendly with the Communists He re-
cites his votes for the Marshall Plan. the
North Atlantic Security Treaty. the ap-
preparations for armament appropria-
tionS both for the United States and to
help arm our European Allies. He men
tions his firm support Of the late Presi.
dent Franklin Delano Roosevelt through
out the war. He insists that Mr.. Sma.
theirs is lust frimframing like the devil"
IN making these Red charges. In explana-
ton. Senator Pepper said that when .
youthful lawyer asked a veterans bar
rlSter what to do when he had neither
the law nor the facts on his side. he was
told by the veteran he should lust frim-
fran"
1t Is a matter Of record. Of course,
that Senator Pepper eventually broke
with Henry Wallace. when 1t became
evident that the commies were DOM
mating the Wallace campaign in ls4S.
The Vote American" slogan, however,
grows not alone out Of charges that
Senator Pepper has been too friendly
with Communists and fellow travellers.
Mr.. Smathers attacks Senator Pepper
because. he says. Mr.. Pepper would
give the Government more and more
control over the everyday lives of the
American people. through enactment Of
compulsory health insurance (socialized
medicine) and other measures. He makes
the point. too that Senator Pepper.
who today claims he is against FEPC,
in 1914 voted for an FEPC measure
which Senator Pepper denies.
Brings in CIO Issue.
To give the race issue greater color.
NJ t. ~
the CIO has gone into Florida in a big
way to enroll thousands Of Negroes to
vote for Senator Pepper-and that many
Negroes are being lined up on the theory
that a vote for Senator Pepper Is cer-
tainly better than a vote for Mr.. Smath-
ers who is strongly opposed to FEPC
legislation.
The Smathers people admit that many
of the Negro voters in Florida may be
expected to vote for Senator Pepper
there are 116,145 Negroes registered in
Florida, LOG .420 in the Democratic coll
umn and 9.725 in the Republican. But,
they add. the fact that the CLIO, coming
in from outside. is endeavoring to elect
a Senator in Florida with Negro votes.
will lose Senator Pepper two or more
white votes for every Negro he gains.
The charge Of Senator Pepper and his
adherents is that Mr.. Smathers is, In
reality. the Republican candidate" for
the Senate. They insist Republican
money Is being poured out like water
to help Mr.. Smathers win, and that
efforts have been made to get many
Republicans to shift their party regis
tration to Democratic, so that they may
cast their votes for Smathers in the
primary. Indeed, they have attempted,
in a whispering campaign. to link the
Smathers campaign to the campaign TO
re-elect Senator Taft in Ohio.
Both sides claim victory. with the
Pepper people declaring that the Senator
has made noticeable gains in his cam
paigning-at which he Is past master
in the last two weeks It has been Q
mudslinging campaign on both sides
although the Properties say that Mr..
Smathers started the mudslinging. More
neutral observers here say they wouldn't
bet a plugged nickel. so uncertain is tho
outcome.