Evening star., 1952-03-06
The Political Mil
Trumon Moves Puzzle
New Hampshire Aides
Some Looking for Spot to Land
u He Decides to Quit Race
The Political Mill
By Gould Lincoln


MANCHESTER, N. H., Mar. 6.-When
President Truman permitted the use Of
his name in the New Hampshire primary
and at the same time asserted this &C.
ton did not necessarily mean he in
tended to run again-he really puzzled
Democrats here. just as in the rest Of
the country
So much so. that some Of the leaders
here are looking around for q spot to
land In case the President should finally
decide against seeking another term in
the White House. And some of them
have already come UP with Gov. Adlat
Stevenson of Illinois as the man. In
deed. there is more than strong suspi-
ciOn that the New Hampshire delega-
tion to the Democratic National Con.
vention. II the Truman delegate candi-
dates are elected next Tuesday. would
move over Immediately to Gov. Steven
son should Mr.. Truman declare himself
out Of the race.
OF course, should delegates favoring
Senator Kefauver Of Tennessee be
elected, that would be horse of another
color. In that event major political
upset. would have occurred-and any
thing might happen.
Shouting Almost to Man.
In the meantime. however. the Demo-
cratic leaders of the State almost to q
Not only are they saying he should be
nominated, they are saying he must be
persuaded to run. And that he would
be the party's strongest candidate Un-
til election day, they will be hard at it,
aided by speakers imported from other
States. Former Senator Scott Lucas Of
Illinois was one Of the first to arrive,
and before q rally at the University of
New Hampshire in Durham, Mr.. Lucas
declared tnat Mr.. Truman must be re-
elected to bring peace to the world.
The former Illinois Senator said that
the President "has no personal desire
to run for another term" which did not
In any way lessen the mystiflcation Of
Democrats here. But, said Mr.. Lucas,
the President must be persuaded"
These tactics on the part Of Mr.. Tru-
nah and his supporters seem to be aimed
at bringing about strong draft" move
ment for the President to run again. At
the same time the Democrats in New,
Hampshire, who keep an ear to the
ground on Washington happenings, took
note Of the boost which President Tru.
man gave Gov. Stevenson at recent
press conference.-the first and only
such boost which Mr.. Truman has given
q potential Democratic nominee for the
presidency. So they are keeping them
selves ready for anything.
Keeps Guessing Contest Open.
The question which brought forth the
HYaor n IavNtt tts tee x%GH
said. in some quarters, to have been
planted" II it was 1t might either be
one Of two things-that the President
really intends to step out Of the picture
at the right time and 60 for Gov. Steven
son. or that he was only giving another
flick Of the wrist to keep the guessing
contest going.
The Truman Democrats-which means
the regular organization-in New Hamp.
shire have an immediate job on their
hands. That is to defeat Senator Kefau-
YER whom they do not wish for presi-
dental nominee whether Mr.. Truman
runs or not. If they can hand him first
class drubbing in the first presidential
preference primary, they will feel they
have gone long way toward ditching
the Senator In other contests for dele
gates to the national convention. So
they are going about it In systematic
way. In party primary, the party or
ganization, generally, has things pretty
much its own way.
Senator Kefauver. however, is SPEND
ing the final days Of the campaign in
the State. going his way to small and
large towns, meeting and shaking hands
with as many people as he can. His chief
claim to fame lies in the job he did az
chairman Of the Senate Crime Investi-
eating Committee, and it has its impact
in New Hampshire as elsewhere, al.
though television, which showed the pro-
ceedings Of the crime committee, comes
into the State only in the areas near
Boston.