Evening star., 1952-07-17
The PofficsI Mil
Democratic Convention
Could Make History
Stevenson Still Is the Choice
Of Most Of Porty's Leaders

Stevenson Still Is the Choice
Of Most Of Porty's Leaders
By Gould Lincoln
CHICAGO. July 1.-THE Democratic
National Convention has all the ele-
ments needed for historic battle
barring an early-b nomination of
Adlai Stevenson of Illinois for Presi-
dent Gov. Stevenson. for reasons best
known to himself. does not want the
nomination. His very reluctance, how
ever. the fact he is hard to get. makes
him more attractive to some of the
delegates and their leaders.
So far the Illinois Governor has de-
clined to state fatty he would not
accept a nomination if the convention
should hand him one. He has, however,
done everything he can to discourage
all persons, especially his own Chicago
delegates to the convention, from seek
ing his nomination. On the face of it,
Gov. Stevenson does not want to say
YES" and he can't say mo-" At least,
those who cling to the idea of nomi-
mating him continue to believe he
could not and would not refuse.
The Illinois Governor is the choice
OF most of the Democratic leaders and
probably OF most of the delegates, the
great mass of whom have been picked
by their organization leaders. Senator
Kefauver of Tennessee is decidedly the
front runner when it comes to the
popular vote. He has entered more pref
erence primaries and won more, by far.
than any other candidate. Gov. Steven
son has entered none and won none
although he might have trounced Ke-
fauver severely in the Illinois primary
last spring.
Amazing Kefauver Following.
1t is impossible to deny that Senator
kefauver, who reused the country to q
tremendous pitch of interest as chairman
OF the Senate Crime Investigating
Committee two years ago. has an amaz-
ing following. His victories in the pri-
mar1es run across the country, from
New Hampshire to Wisconsin and
Nebraska and to California. His prin-
cipal trouble lies in the fact that the
reorganization" does not want him, and
that goes from the White House down
the line.
The coming convention marks the
first time since 1932-a full score of
years ago-that the Democrats have
not had their presidential nominee
already selected for them before the
delegates met.
Three times the honor went to the
late President Franklin D. Roosevelt,
and once to President Harry S. Truman.
There was talk in 1948 of ditching Mr..
Truman, but that faltered and died
by the opening session of that years
convention. Since President Truman
has said he will not accept renomina-
tion, the field is wide open, with a
bakers dozen of actual and potential
candidates.
AS might be expected, seven Senators
are among the entries-Kefauver OF
Tennessee, Russell of Georgia, Kerr of
Oklahoma, Fulbright of Arkansas,
Mcmahon of Connecticut. Magnuson of
Washington, and Humphrey of Minne-
sofa. None of them. outside of Mr.. Kefau-
yer, appears a likely selection. Senator
Russell, from the deep South, strongly
committed against Federal FEPC, is
highly regarded but politically impos-
c1hAC do a ~ 1lOkkllIlCC CdRdUl0
of carrying the big States of the North.
East and West, or even the smaller
States of those sections.
Senator Kerr, from a border State,
has made no appeal to the rank-and-
file voters.
Democrats in the last half century
have turned more often to Governors
IF Cfofo for hat 81
For example, Grover Cleveland, AL
Smith, Franklin D. Roosevelt, all
Governors of New York; Woodrow
Wilson, Governor of New Jersey. and
Jimmy" Cox, Governor of Ohio.
President Truman was Senator when
he was nominated for Vice President;
indeed, no Senator since the days Of
Cleveland has been q Democratic
presidential nominee.
williams May Bear Watching.
Outside of Gov. Stevenson, the only
Democratic Governors who appear in
the picture today are Mennen Williams
of Michigan and Paul Dever of Massa-
chusetts. Gov. Williams may bear watch
ing. He has twice been elected chief ex-
ecutive Of his own State. big and pivotal.
He is an attractive young man. A good
campaigner. Gov. Dever. keynote speaker
of the convention. is just favorite-
son candidate-and nothing more.
w. Averell Hartman, Mutual Security
Administrator. with the big New York
delegation back Of him-but little else
and Vice President Barkley are the
other principal contenders. Mr.. Harri-
man has no personal appeal-though he
is said to be improving his style of
campaigning. He is the most liberal and
leftish candidate of them all. and is
keying his campaign that way. MIR.
Barkley, indestructible veteran Of q
hundred political battles. has more
friends among the Democrats the coun-
try over than any of the candidates. His
age is his handicap. Speaker Sam Ray
burn of Texas has his followers. They
believe he may emerge as compromise
candidate in the event Of deadlock.
The most inflammable element Of all,
threatening the peace Of the Demo-
cratic gathering, is the civil rights issue.
If it cannot be assuaged, the South may
again break away and cause q great
split in the party. As Of today. the
rocks are dead ahead and appear
unavoidable.