Evening star., 1950-07-04
The Political Min
Jimmy Byrnes Winds Up
Governorship Compoign
Wqsing one-Mon Election
Fight in South CuroIinu

Wqging One-Mon Election
Fight in South coroIinu
By Gould Lincoln
SPARTANBURG. s. c., July 4.-South
Carolinians and visitors to South Car
olina are sometimes at q loss how to
address the States most DISTINGUISHED
son, James F. Byrnes cJimmy" to thou
sands OF them). They are not quite sure
whether to, call him Senator, Mr.. Secre-
tary, or MIR. Justice. But after primary
day. July IL, most of them believe they
will have no trouble of this kind next
January-theyu call him Governor"
Mr.. ByrneS, whose last job with the
Government was Secretary Of State. is
now winding up an amazing campaign
Tor the Democratic gubernatorial noml-
nation. A one-man campaign, without
a campaign manager-for the State or
In any county. Mr., Byrnes is his own
manager. and two rooms in the Cleye-
land Hotel here are his only headquar-
ters, stated by his secretary and a
couple OF typing assistants. Yet thou
sands OF South Carolinians are ready to
vote for him. particularly his old friends
In every county in the State.
His campaign is run, too, with the
expenditure Of minimum amount of
money. Yet Mr.. Byrnes could have MANY
thousands Of dollars contributed to hi,
campaign chest If he would give the
nod. But he won't. Only out of his own
pocket and from a few old friends come
the funds.
Wants No Strings.
He has found it necessary to send
checks back to admirers as far away as
California and to say mo" to friendly
; interests in the State. He wants no
strings tied to his election; no fayors
which he would feel obligated to repay
when and If he enters the governors
Office.
While most every one here believes
that MIR. Byrnes will be nominated for
governor, great many seem puzzled
over his desire to become the States
cnlef executive. Mr.. Byrnes himself saws
tnat ne tries, In every. speech he makes
ana every campaign pronouncement. TO
make the people understand. He sx-
plains That he has real desire for
public service. and that this time he
wishes his service to be in his own home
State-not in Washington where he has
neld so many high and important posts.
he wants to make the State govern.
ment strong. He believes that every
state government should be strong. That
is the only way to halt concentration Of
power In Washington, D. c., in his opin.
lon-ano unless halt Is made the peo-
PIE IN the end will lose great measure
OF their liberty to bureaucrats In tha
Nations Capital.
Perhaps you can put 1t down 10 INV
q o1 Y-;r
more informally.
His opponents, on the other hand.
attempt to read sinister and personal
ambitions into Mr.. Byrnes' Candidacy
for governor. He has held great ONCE
In the past and relinquished it. He has
been Representative, Senator. Associate
Justice Of the Supreme Court. Secretary
OF State, Assistant President as the
late President Franklin D. Roosevelt
called him.
Foes See Jealousy
He is an able lawyer and, his oppo.
nents say. could make large fees in pri.
vate practice. Why, at the age of II,
they ask, should he run for eovernorc
Iney answer Mr.. Byrnes broke with
President Truman long ago. has been
bitterly jealous of him, and wishes. Al
governor Of South Carolina to be in
position to work against denomination
forsMr. Truman in 1852, .,.-..' =.
It's perfectly true that Mr.. Byrnes
does not go along with the deficit spend-
ing ideas OF the Truman administration
or with the administrations plans for
socialized medicine. the Brannan farm
program and other costly items of the
Truman program. but to Mr.. Byrnes
the charge that he has political motives
beyond giving South Carolina n rood
administration is all poppycock.
AS matter of fact, Mr.. Byrnes did
not break" with Mr.. Truman. had no
wrangle with him before he resigned az
Secretary of State. Mr.. Byrnes vrota
out his resignation after he had had
physical checkup and q cardioeram
showed. apparently, there was something
wrong with his heart He was about Ia
go to meeting of foreign ministers in
Parls. In 1916, when this occurred He
ieit ne had to go ahead with his plans.
put explained to the President he felt
t9at he could not retain office indefi.
nltely. and would step out when he re-
turned from Paris-which he did. When
ne returned from Europe, Mr.. Byrnes
mad another check-and the cardioQram
showed his heart normal. He is In the
pink OF health now. The doctors who
gave him his first tests have been un-
able TO explain that adverse heart report
except to say that it might have been
que 10 some temporary cause, probably
strain and overwork.