Evening star., 1952-03-17
Russell Denies Story
He Has Entered Race
10 Stymie keiauyer

Georgia. actively campaigning for
the presidency. today continued
to talk about issues and other
candidates but not much about
each other.
Senator Kefauver believes that
some Democratic leaders and or
|ganizations in the North oppose
him but mot nearly as widespread
las the rumors would have you be-
|lieve."
Senator Russell, in q television
program, MICS Meet the Press
yesterday. made passing refer
|ence to the Kefauver campaign.
He denied that his own campaign
lis being waged to stop the
Kefauver bandwagon. Such as
sertions. he said, are wholly
without reason or foundation"
Believes Eisenhower Agrees.
The Georgia Senator dealt more
with q Republican presidential
possibility, Gen. Eisenhower. Dis
|cussing proposals for q fair en-
|ployment practice commission,
which he opposes. Senator Russell
said that $50 far as know Gen.
Eisenhower is opposed to any COM
|pulsory FEPC."
A Federal FEPC law Of the type
Opposed by Senator Russell and
practically all Southern political
leaders. would be aimed at pre-
venting discrimination for reasons
of race or religion in hiring or
firing people from jobs.
Senator Russell said he based
his opinion Of Gen. Eisenhower's
position on the absence of any
announcement by the general
that he favors a compulsory FEPC
The Senator contended that a
compulsory commission would be
"the longest step forward toward
socialism" that could be taken,
Reassures Negroes.
A few minutes later, Senator
Russell added: ST perhaps
shouldn't have made that state
ment in view of the fact he
hasn't declared himself in the
press so far as I know, but
certainly have no reason to be-
|lieve he does favor compulsory
|FEPC."
"The American Negro knows he
has nothing to fear from me, "
Senator Russell said. He said he
doubted that segregation would
end in the South in the foresee-
able future. He asserted there is
"a complete understanding be-
tween white and Negro races in
the South" and added that the
American Negro Is more inde-
pendent economically in the South
today than in any other section
Of the country"
The main issues Of the coming
campaign, Senator Russell said,
are: 1--avoiding a third world
war. through strength and collab-
Grafton with other powers: 2-see-
ing that the American economy is
not impaired: 3-honesty in Gov
ernment; 4-the rights of the
States and avoidance Of concen-
tration Of powers in the hands Of
the central Government. He
added that II he were elected
he would not promise to
reduce taxes Immediately. al
though he believed Federal ex-
penses could be cut.
Kerr Wary of Military.
In q CBS television program
yesterday Senator Kerr, Democrat.
Of Oklahoma. who has been men
toned as q possible presidential
candidate this year. said he does
not think much Of military men
as Presidents. He praised the
military qualities Of Gen. Eisen-
hover but added: II don't think
he knows any more about the
problems of the farmers and
workers than farmers and workers
know about the problems of a
general"
Representative Herter. Repub-
lican, Of Massachusetts,, on the
same program. commented that he
did not think the Senate "has
such a good record as q presi-
dental training ground" He
noted that Presidents Truman and
Harding were former Senators.