Evening star., 1952-08-19
Wyatt Says Contest
Reversed lis Decision
On Stevenson Speech
By the Associated Press

major farm speech at Minnesota'S S
National Flowing Contest was
called off today-after contest Of
ficials declined to permit him to
speak the same day as Dwight D.
Eisenhower.
Wilson w. Wyatt, the Governors
campaign manager in Springfield,
issued pre-dawn statement say
ing contest officials had reversed
their position in barring Sep
tember 6 speech by the Democratic
presidential nominee.
Accepted by Eisenhower.
He also charged they backed
down on a subsequent decision toI
make the whole arrangement con-
ditional on Gen. Eisenhower ap-
proval.
Gov. StevenSon's office had an
nounced last night that the Gov
ernor would make his farm speech
at the contest in Kasson, Mimi, at
3 pm. (EST) that day-just four
hours after Gen. Eisenhower's
scheduled appearance.
Gen. Eisenhower had accepted
the invitation two days earlier.
But the executive committee of
the National Flowing Contest de-
clded after four-hour meeting
early today to invite the Governor
to speak September 5-with Gen.
Eisenhower appearing as Sched-
uled the following day.
Mr.. Wyatt telegraphed the COM
mittee that neither Gov. Steven
son nor Senator Sparkman, could
appear September 5, because of
prior commitments.
Invited on August 10.
Mr.. Wyatt said the Governor
was invited to speak on August
10 by Philip S. Duff. jr., chair
man of the Public Relations Com
mittee for the event. He said
MIR. Duff informed the Governor
that Robert Hurrle of Rochester,
MINI. the Program Committee
chairman, welcomed him for
either day of the event-Septem-
ber or 6.
Mr.. Wyatt added that he tele-
phoned Mr.. Duff last night when
he was informed of press reports
that acceptance by Gen. Eisen-
hover had "closed the door" for
a speech by Gov. Stevenson the
same day. Mr.. Wyatt added:
''Mr. Duff told me that during
the middle of yesterday afternoon
he heard indirectly that since
Gen. Eisenhower had accepted for
September 6, Gov. Stevenson
would no longer be welcome on
that day. Mr.. Duff said he i'm
mediately sought out Mr.. Hurrle
to check the truth of the rumor.
Upon finding Mr.. Hurrle, Mr..
Duff learned Mr.. Hurrle now took
the position that Gov. Stevenson's
invitation for the sixth of Septem-
ber should be withdrawn in the
light of Gen. EisenhoWer's ac-
ceptance.
Provisions Noted.
Mr.. Wyatt said Mr.. Duff ar
ranged for members of the Execu-
tive Committee to review the sit
uation after talking with Mr..
Hurrle. Mr.. Wyatt added:
'At the end of the four-hour
meeting Mr.. Duff telephoned me
to report that the Executive Com
mittee had decided to invite both
Gen. Eisenhower and Gov. Ste
venson for the sixth of September,
subject to two provisions:
81. Gen. Eisenhower should
have the choice of speaking either
in the forenoon as originally
scheduled for him, or at 8 in the
afternoon as had been discussed
for Gov. Stevenson.
80. That the whole arrange
ment, including Gov. Stevenson's
appearance, should be subject to
Gen. Eisenhower's approval"
Mr.. Wyatt said he informed Mr..
Duff that although Gov. Steven
son was away from Springfield
II was confident that he would
understand the situation and
would be very glad to let Gen.
Eisenhower have first choice to
speak in the morning or afternoon
Of September g."
Prior Commitments.
However, he added, Mr.. Duff
called him again by telephone |,
early today to report that the
committee had held second ses-
sion land now had reversed it's
position"
He said the committee had in
vited Gov. Stevenson or Senator
Sparkman to appear only on Sep
tember 5.
Il regretfully informed him
(Mr. Duff that owing to prior
commitments neither Gov. Steven
son nor Senator Sparkman could
appear September and it was
for this reason that Gov. Steven
son had accepted the invitation
for September g." Wyatt said.
Mr.. Hurrle said earlier in Min
neapolis:
1--WE opened the fifth and sixth
to both candidates and when
Eisenhower accepted the sixth,
that closed the day. With two
speeches on the same day, the
crowd would be held in the OBJ
servation area and nobody would
get any blowing DONE"
Door Wasn't Closed.
Mr.. Hurrle also contended "there
has never been a written invita-
ton to Gov. Stevenson from any
official of this body, but we have
never closed the door to him,
either. We are desirous of being
fair. but we do not want a po-