Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-19
The Political Mill
The Political Mill
Top Democrats Chilled
By Eisenhower Shadow
Three Quit Presidential Race
Giving Different Reasons

"SS XVII 'CStoSHtIOt NO\S
Giving Different Reasons
By Gould Lincoln
What's the matter with the Demo-
cratic presidential nomination Of 1852?
Three top runners, any one of whom
might have had the nomination, have
dropped out-President Truman, Gov.
Stevenson of Illinois and another out
standing Illinois Democrat, Senator Paul
Douglas. The reasons given by these
gentlemen are different. The Presi-
dent has made it clear he does not
believe in third terms in the White
House. Gov. Stevenson insists he was
nominated in good faith for another
term as Governor and that he could
not accept another nomination this
summer" Senator Douglas has insisted
for a long time he is not candidate,
and added he would not accept.
Perhaps it is not good year for
Democrats, or Democratic victory-or
may not be, if the Republicans do not
tear their party limb from lamb in the
preconvention campaign. Certainly the
Eisenhower shadow has sent cold chills
down the Spines of some Democrats.
And some Democrats are actually for
the election of the general, even if he
runs on the Republican ticket-as he
will if nominated.
At the Democratic dinner in New
York Thursday night, given in honor
OF w. AVerell Hartman, the two men
who stole the show were Gov. Steven
son and Vice President Barley. The
first is not candidate. The second
is lowering on the fringe, apparently
waiting for demand that he get into
the running. 1t may come at any
time from his own home State, Ken
lucky.
GrOOmed as Favorite Son.
Mr.. Hartman is groomed now as the
favorlte-son candidate of the New York
organization Democrats. In some quar-
tiers it is suggested that he has been
put forward so as to forestall any eff
fort to have the New York delegates
go to the party's national convention
IN Chicago to support the youthful
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, jr., son of
the late President and now serving a
second term in the House of Repre-
sentatives. Since James Roosevelt. the
late Presidents oldest son, took a crush
ing defeat at the hands of Gov. Earl
Warren, Republican, of California two
years ago, it has become increasingly
apparent that if the present generation
OF RooSeveltS IF. D. R. VARIETY is to
have place in the political sun. it
must be Franklin D., jr.
Mr.. Roosevelt was POSTMASTER at the
Hartman dinner, and an attractive
figure. He is the man the Democrats
might nave nominated in 1850 to run
against Gov. Dewey, Republican. but
didn't. He is only 38 years old-too
youthful, perhaps, for nomination for
the big job. He bears a magic name.
however. and the Democratic National
convention may not be tied to any man
when 1t meets. Also, there is a second
place on the national ticket into which
Mr.. Roosevelt could very well fit. if he
would. On the other hand, Mr.. Roosevelt
may feel that 1852 is not a good wear:
that it would be wiser to wait until
1856 or even 1860. Or he might aspire
to run for the Senate against Senator
Ives Republican. He bucked the Demo-
cratic organization in New York CITY
when he first ran for the House seat
left vacant by the death of the late
Sol Bloom, and he may buck it again.
II occasion arises.
May Be Holding Operation.
The idea that Averell Hartman will
be serious contender for the Demo-
cratic presidential nomination has not
taken hold yet The entire Hartman
operation, indeed, may be Just a holding
operation. That seems now to be the
strategy OF those Democratic leaders
VINO do not relish taking Senator
ketauver of Tennessee as their presiden-
tlal nominee The TenneSsean has shown
himself able to win in popular tests
much to the embarrassment of those
Democrats who do not want him.
Two serious contenders for the Demo-
cratic presidential nomination from
States of the solid South" Kefauyer of
tennessee and Russell of Georgia, make
the present Democratic situation un-
usual, to say the least. Stranger still is
the fact that one of them, Kefauyer.
seems acceptable to many Northern
Democrats and not to those of the
South, while Russell is acceptable to the
SouthernerS and not to the Democrats
OF the North. The two will meet head on
IN the only presidential primary to be
held in the South-Florida' primary
ON May 6. The result might change the
picture considerably for the Tennes-
sean.