Evening star., 1952-07-26
Kefauver, 4o Today,
Celebrates Without
Most Coveted Gift
BY Robert K. Welsh
S'or Staff Correspondent

W NVUSTI n. WOISH
Ss1r Staff Correspondent
CHICAGO, July 26.-Estes Ke-
fauver reached his 49th birthday
in the hubbub of a Democratic
National Convention early today
but without the gift he wanted
most.
His birthday. of course, was only
beginning when the delegates
took time off until later today to
take up the task of nominating
q Vice President.
The band played and the con-
vention sang Happy Birthday"
after the Tennessee Senator stood
before them at midnight. He
promised that in the coming cam
paign to elect Gov. Adlai E. Ste
venson President he would work as
hard as he had for himself.
Any personal birthday celebra-
tion later today should be restful
and reflective compared with the
strenuous home stretch he ran yes
terday in striving for the conven-
tion's top prize.
Comes Out Shaking Hands.
The lanky legislator and gre
garious political practitioner COW
cred it all in his characteristic
stride. The wind-up began at
midday yesterday when he came
out-hand-shaking instead of
Swinging-from Sherman Hotel
suite and sped to tiny room in
the Stockyards Inn next to the
convention amphitheater.
Having long ago made assets
out of amiability and approach
ability, Senator Kefauver sur
prised no one when he broke some
sort Of a precedent by emerging
from the room and holding a COR
ridor news conference after every
ballot.
The fact that there were only
two and one-half ballots before
he hurried across the courtyard
to the Convention Hall did not
crimp his style.
Senator Kefauver and his
friend, Senator Douglas of Il
linois, could not get through police
lines which were making straight
path for President Truman from
the Sirloin Club to the exposition
arena. Unable to enter various
auditorium doors, they were
shunted through a taproom, out
into the stockyards air on Hal
sted street. and eventually into a |
jammed entryway that enabled
them to approach the roStrum.
Asks for Chocolate Ice Cream.
The walk-in began in a matter
of minutes after announcement
of the release of Hartman dele
gates and the start of a shift to
Gov. Stevenson.
Previously, at a more leisurely
pace, Senator Kefauver had noti-
fled reporters that midway in the
first ballot he was greatly en-
couraged by developments. He
sent for some chocolate ice cream.
At the end of the first ballot he
opened the door and voiced hap
pineSs because he had received |
more than the 270 votes he had
anticipated. He predicted victory
on the fifth or sixth ballot.
His reserve strength, he ex-
planned, was firmer and more last
ing than that of Gov. Stevenson
and Senator Russell. But he re-
marked that the Illinois chief |
executive was the one he had to
beat.
His campaign manager, Gael
Sullivan. a former Assistant Post
master General and one-time
Rhode Islander who became a po-
1itical power in Chicago. quipped:
OonC we look happy?"
After the second round-ballot,
that is-Senator Kefauver came
out again. He reported he had
information that some of the IA
vorite son votes were ripe for
plucking for the Kefauver basket. |
He declared that nothing in the
Stevenson showing on the first
two ballots indicated a genuine
draft was in the wind.
No Time to Dine Out.
He disclosed that he hadn't
written an advance acceptance
speech but II have been thinking
OF some things I can say"
Il doubt that there will be a
deadlock" he said. II still think