Evening star., 1952-12-08
His Story on Campaign
Wouldn't Have Last
Chapter, Wyatt Says
BY The Assoeioted Press

BY the Assoeioted Press
LOUISVILLE. KY, Dec. ST
he ever writes book for campaign
chairman, the man who charted
Gov. Adlai Stevenson's race will
omit the last chapter. Nobody likes
unhappy endings, especially Will
son Wyatt.
I'm just getting over one" +"
he said settling back In a chair
at his spacious suburban home.
The stocky attorney stepped into
the job on short notice. He's pre-
pared to do it again in 1856
if Gov. Stevenson runs.
But he hasn't said anything
about his plans and I'm not guess
ing" said Mr.. Wyatt.
Delay Hurt Party
He explains the delay in launch
ing the last campaign hurt the
Democrats considerably.
Looking back on more than
three months and 10000 miles of
travel. when he lost sleep and
gained weight, Mr.. Wyatt believes
time is a big handicap to candi-
dates.
This business of only "a hours
a day is highly restrictive. Some
times he worked well into the sec
ond day before going to bed for
three or four hours.
Usually, Adlai and I managed
about four to five hours sleep a
night. Sunday always was a
normal day. We worked.
Both of us picked up pound
age. When you're campaigning
you have to slide in a fourth meal
somewhere. Mine was buttermilk
and cheese, out of the ice box late
at night.
Despite Ike's popularity there
were reports Of differences in his
camp. but I can say truthfully
we never had any. You can see,
how united we were by the vote
Stevenson piled up, even though
he lost"
Never Lost Temper.
He credits part of that show
ing to President Truman's help
but most of 1t to a smooth-run-
ming machine spanked by Gov.
Stevenson's cooperation and tenn
permanent. "The Governor was
calm and serene through it all .. &.
never losing his temper"
The only time he saw Gov.
Stevenson irked was the night be-
fore the election when the NOM
tnee wasn't notified his television-
radio time had run out.
Except for this one instance,
the campaign by television was
considered q success. Mr.. Wyatt
is convinced the expansion of TV
stations in the next four years
will permit candidates to eliminate
many personal visits throughout
the country and give them more
time to work on their speeches.
Both he and the Governor speak
warmly of their treatment by the
working press.
News Condensed
On the road, the party kept pace
with the news and the way 1t was
handled through 10-page sum-
mary prepared daily by the public
relations staff. Mr.. Stevenson
would leaf through the condensa-
ton each morning. discussing the
play his speeches received and the
way his pictures were handled.
"On the whole" says Mr.. Wyatt,
stevenson didn't get a fair share
of news space. compared with
that given Eisenhower"
He doesn't blame the reporters
who travelled with the party.
"They were extremely considerate
and fair"
Mr.. Wyatt, who first learned the
value Of good press while serv-
ing as Mayor of Louisville and
later as the Nations housing ex-
pediter. says the newsmen had only
two complaints.
THE biggest gripes were over
our slownesS in handing out ad-
vance copies Of the Governors
speeches and the small number
Of news conferences"
"The advances" he explained,
had to be late because Adali wrote
his own speeches, sometimes fin
ishing a few minutes before he
was scheduled to talk"