Evening star., 1951-10-04
Attack on Kefauver
By Florida Governor
Winds Up Conference
By Gould Lincoln
S'or Stoff Correspondent

GATLINBURG, Tenn, Oct. A.
The Governors of the 48 States
and the Territories, after a three
day conference, were on their way
home with the bitter words of
Gov. Fuller Warren of Florida still
ringing in their ears. Gov. War;
rem had described Senator Ke-
fauver of Tennessee, chairman of
the crime investigating commit
tee, as political shyster, futilely
running for President of the
United States
The Florida Governor, who for
months has been in sharp contro-
verSy with Senator Kefauver and
his committee. warned the Gov
ernors that if the practice of hav-
ing crime investigators sent out
from Washington Is continued,
the country will wind up in
anarchy.
No Doubt of Target.
In his structures against Sen
ator Kefauver, Gov. Warren did
not use his name, but there was
no slightest doubt to who m he was
referring. The outburst of the
Florida Governor came as a round
table discussion of law enforce
ment was underway. presided over
by Gov. Earl Warren of Cali
fornia.
Asked for comment on Gov.
Warren'S attack, Senator Kefauver
said IN Washington: I've always
heard a stuck pig always squealS.
A Kefauver Committee report
said Florida was one of the Ma
tons major centers of organized
gambling and crime. The report
indirectly pointed a critical finger
at Gov. Warren.
One Governor, Val Peterson of
Nebraska. rose to defend Senator
kefauver, who, he said, has done
a great work. Gov. Peterson de-
MED any knowledge of the condi-
tons in Florida
Effort to Suppress Gambling.
Gov. Warren said that gambling
had flourished openly in Florida
for so years before he became
Governor. No one. he said, ever
tried to halt It. When he took
office. Warren said, he began an
effort to suppress gambling. He
said that at the first session of
the Legislature he got through an
antl-bookie law which had a
measurable effect on suppressing
bookle gambling.
Also, he said, great gambling
houseS-one of which has become
almost a national shrine" were
closed.
Then, Gov. Warren continued.
"thiS political shyster got himself
a Job as head of a Crime Investi-
eating Committee and came to
Florida and joined up with a
gambling clique" who were oppos-
ing Warrens efforts to halt
gambling.
This ambition-crazed Caesar
got cozy," said Warren. with
this clique. 1t was permitted to
select the witnesses to be heard by
the Senate Committee and even
TO say who should not be heard.
Invites Inspection"
Gov. Warren said that if the
Governors would come to Florida
they would have a difficult time to
find any gambling, except the
parimutual betting at the race
tracks. He said. too, that Florida,
according to Federal records, has
one of the lowest records of major
crime among all the States.
Gov. McKeldin of Mary
land expressed strong opposition
to a proposal for licensing gam
bling. contained in a bill intro
duced in the Senate. He called it
a shocking thing. He agreed
that law enforcement was the
duty of the States and localities.
but said that the States still need
the assistance given by the FBI
and the Federal Narcotics Bureau.
The business sessions of the con,
ference produced resolutions call
ing On Congress to set up a COM
mission to promote return to
working Federalism" with the
States, to make more steel avail
able to States. to set up a better
civilian defense organization and
to pave the way for more inter-
state cOmnacts for handling NIL