Evening star., 1952-10-09
The Political Mill:
Stevenson Still Unknown
To Millions of Voters
Washington State Democrats
Call His Technique Wrong
By Gould Lincoln

SEATTLE, Wash, Oct. "a survey
across the country finds many Demo-
cratic leaders worried about the Steven
son campaign: Worried about the
crowds he draws and the reception he
gets. Not that Gov. Stevenson's speeches
are weak or poorly received by his au-
diences. On the contrary. the Stevenson
speeches are gems of their kind and for
the most part his witty sallies at his
Republican opponents go over in big
way. The difficulty with the campaign,
as the Democratic critics see it. is that
it has not brought the candidate in con-
tact with enough people-and that he
is still the unknown" to millions OF
voters which he was when he was NOM
mated.
For example, one of the leading DEM
ocrats in this State privately expressed
the opinion that it is bad strategy for
StevenSon's airplane to hop into State,
and then out again. before you can say
Jack Robinson. A case in point
Stevenson drops out Of sky into Spokane
at IL am. and is on the wing again at
2:30 pm. or little earlier. This Demo-
cratic leader believes the presiden ial
nominee could make far more hay by
train trip-whistlestops and ALL These
critics say, also, Gov. Stevenson has
been spending far too much time IN
Springfield and they are glad he Is get
ting out now on a campaign trip.
Under Great Handicap.
They fear that Gov. Stevenson still
remains under the great handicap Of
running against Republican candidate,
Gen. Eisenhower, whose name and rec
ord are known to practically every voter
in the country while, he, Stevenson Is
still dim figure. Here in Seattle they
are exercised over the fact that Gov.
Stevenson hoped in for brief stay.
and was seen by an estimated 10000
people, while Gen. Eisenhower drew
$4,000 in crowds to see him-on the
streets and at his meeting. And 1t irks
them, too, that the crowds which turned
out to see President Truman added up
to $4,000 less than the Eisenhower
crowds. The one mitigating circum-
stance was better weather and timing
for Ike.
AS of today, it appears that Gov. Ste
venson, as candidate. is less strong
than his party. It's something the pres
idential candidate must overcome, his
own party leaders say, If he can. It is
not helping Gov. Stevenson, either, in
their opinion, that President Truman
has stolen the limelight, and made him.
self and his record-the Truman record
and the Truman program-the real
issues in the election campaign. That
however, is precisely what President
Truman last summer said would hap
pen: that he and his record and pro-
gram would be the determining factors
on November 4. The President made
these comments at time when it was
widely publicized that Stevenson's plan
of operation was to be "independent"
and to disaSSociate himself as far as
possible from the Truman record.
Liked BY Intellectuals.
In way, an impression is gaining
ground that the race is between Gen.
Eisenhower and President Truman, al
though Mr.. Truman's name is not on
the ballot. Gov. Stevenson, it is ad-
mitted, Is drawing to the party ticket
some Of the intellectuals among the So
called independents who had become fed
up with the Truman administration,
and who believed that the time had
come for a change" in the Washing
ton scene. This is comparatively small
group of voters.
The Republicans, for their part, insist
that Gen. Eisenhower is stronger than
his party-that he is bringing not only
many of the independents into the
G. o. P. camp but also some Of the
Democrats. The fact that he is widely
and favorably-known, and the fact that
people appear to like him personally.
are giving the party leaders much en-
couragement. It is a common remark
among the politicians that, should Gen.
Eisenhower come along with big vote,
he will take other candidates on the
Republican ticket to victory, even over
strong Democratic candidates.
With more than three weeks Of the
campaign yet to run, either Gov. Steven
son or Gen. Eisenhower may materially
strengthen. Some of the voters frankly
say they haven't made up their minds.
On the other hand, there are voters who
remain cloSe-mouthed, even though they
may have decided for whom to vote.
That goes for many of the farmers and
for some of the so-called labor vote. A
union labor voter who plans to vote
for the Republican presidential candi.
date is not advertising it.
Questions nnd Anewere