Evening star., 1950-04-30
Pepper and Smather!
Mode Even Choices
In Florida Race
Continued From First Page. }

Senator Peppers gravest dang
ers lie in the red" and black"
issues, raised against him by Mr..
Smathers, who has charged the
Senator has given more aid and
comfort, in the past, to the Com
munists, than any other senator
and that swarm of carpet
bagging CIO leaders have come
into the State to register thou
sands of Negroes to vote for Sena-
tor Pepper.
Professional gamblers here
make the candidates equal choices
and betters are scarce.
Both Claim Victory.
The Pepper people are claim
ing victory for the Senator by
$4,000 votes-but they will be
happy if he wins by single mar
gin.
Mr.. Smathers' managers insist
the nomination is in the bag for
their candidate. One Statewide
poll, made by q Jacksonville
concern, given Mr.. Smathers ST
per cent of the vote and Senator
Pepper. 43.
Senator Pepper has the indorse-
ment of all the major labor
leaders. CIO, AFL, and the rai.,-
road brotherhoods. He is ex-
pected. too. to have the bulk OF
the Negro vote-106,000 Negroes
are registered Democratic. He
has promised the old people, white
and black, pensions at so years of
age and will get many Of their
votes. !
The veterans are strong for
Mr.. Smathers, 36-year-old war
veteran with 80 months service.
18 in the South Pacific. many Of
the younger people are for him
too. He will have the votes of
the more conservative Democrats
and undoubtedly of many of the
Republicans who have come here
from the North and West and
have registered Democratic. He
has the backing of many of the
business men-but not all by any
means-and of perhaps 80 per
cent of the newspapers.
Peppers Toughest Battle.
The campaign, which has been
going for weeks, has been bitter
with charges and counter charges,
and vituperation. The Smathers
people insist Negro votes are be-
ing purchased for Senator Pep
per. Pepper supporters say Du-
Pont money is being spent for
Mr., Smathers.
Pepper people admit that it is
the toughest battle for political
survival the Senator has had. Mr.
Smathers, set the tempo of the
campaign last winter, putting
Senator Pepper on the defensive,
and keeping him there.
Tonight, however, before a large
cheering crowd in Bayfront Park,
Senator Pepper unlimbered a lot
Of mean words and hot shot
against his opposition. The battle
line early had been drawn, he
said
"On the one side are the legions
Of Roosevelt and humanity, he
declared. "On the other, the forces
Of economic piracy and special
privilege"
Tops Smathers' Audience.
Senator Peppers reliance on the
little man seemed to be borne out
by tonight's rally. Ten thousand
bowling enthusiasts greeted him,
topping the Smathers crowd in
the same place last Thursday by
about 1000.
The crowd yelled its approval
Of Senator Peppers jibes at the
opposition. particularly when he
lined up Mr. Smathers as a Re-
publican, dominated by Dupont
interests.
Yes" said Senator Pepper, "the
old Hoover crowd is desperately
trying to regain control of this
country and Florida has the du-
bious distinction of being the
starting point"
Following his usual technique.
Senator Pepper remained in the
park for hours after the program
had concluded. shaking hands with
thousands of people.
Gives Recipe.
Declaring he had "told the whole
truth" in his state wide campaign,
Senator Pepper said. "Let us ex-
anime the campaign OF the op-
position. What kind of a con-
coction have they cooked up?
Here's the recipe. First you
take a generous portion of half
truths, thoroughly distorted. Then
you add a liberal quantity of
downright falsehoods and blend
in a sufficient amount of mud so
that the truth is no longer ap-
parent.
Then you pour in as much
money as you can get your hands
on. Place this mixture over a
flame OF hate and when it reaches