Evening star., 1952-10-11
Gov. Stevenson
Pledges Drive
On Corruption
Praises Miumi for
Its Cleanup Actions
In Gambling Scandals
BY The Associated Press

~ "S AsSocioIeo FIesS
MIAMI, Fla, Oct. 11.-Gov.
Stevenson promised today to deal
"ruthlessly" with corruption in
Government if he is elected Presi-
dent.
The Illinois Governor brought
his campaign into politically
doubtful Florida today after New
Orleans recorded mixed reaction
last night to his firm stand for
civil rights legislation and against
giving the States title to the oil
rich submerged coastal lands.
Barging into the tough issues
Republicans have raised against
him. the Democratic presidential
nominee likened Miami's cleanup
action in gambling scandals to
steps he had taken in Illinois. He
promised to follow the same
pattern Of action in Washington"
if he wins on November 4.
Praises City'S Efforts.
"You have been touched by
scandals bred by an unsavory al
lance between a national criminal
syndicate and the semilegitimate
operators who cluster around the
fringes of the entertainment busi-
ness" Gov. Stevenson said in a
talk prepared for a party rally
at Bay Front Park.
"But I was pleased to see that
you have learned the practical
lesson taught me in my time as
Governor of Illinois-that cor
ruption will not wait for leisurely
attention.
1T must be attacked by those
in authority and it must be ruth
lessly rooted out before it has a
chance to tester and spread
through the whole of our political
system. I congratulate you for
so moving in Miami as I have in
Illinois and I pledge you that I
will follow the same pattern of
action in Washington"
Chief Eisenhower Target.
Gen. Eisenhower. the Republi-
can presidential nominee. has
made alleged corruption in Gov
ernment one of his chief talking
points In the campaign. Other
Republicans have aimed barbs at
Gov. Stevenson for disclosures
that horse meat was sold as beef
in Illinois and that State tax
stamps were counterfeited.
Gov. Stevenson said he knew
that honest criticism could be
made of the Democratic national
administration.
81 claim that our Democratic
leaders are and have been pretty
good human beings-but I make
no claim to infallibility on their
behalf"
AS he did in campaigning in
Oklahoma and Louisiana yeSter-
day, Gov. Stevenson emphasized
what he said were Democratic con-
tributions to the country's pros
perity. He called attention to the
difference between conditions now
and in the depression of 20 years
ago when the Republicans were in
power.
Wonder If He Helped Cause.
This approach, linked with his
advocacy of civil rights and his
opposition to State ownership of
the submerged coastal lands, left
Democrats in Louisiana wondering
if he had helped or hurt his
chances of obtaining that States
10 electoral votes. Louisiana gave
its 10 votes to the States Rights
ticket in 1948.
Florida has eight electoral votes
and Gen. Eisenhower has been
bidding strongly to break into the
South by carrying that State.
The core of Gov. Stevenson's
argument was that despite Demo-
cratic mistakes the voter should
make his decision by measuring
the world as he knows it today
against what it was 20 years ago.
After a scheduled midafternoon
appearance in Tampa, Gov. Ste
venson planned a major talk in
Nashville, Tenn. tonight before
flying back to his headquarters att
Springfield. Ill.
In his Miami address, Gov. Ste
venson said that Gen. Eisenhower
had told Florida citizens they had
better beware or your Federal
(See STEVENSON. Page A-3.)