Evening star., 1952-06-08
Democrats
Kefouver's Proof He'd Give Any Republican
A Run for 1t Is Still Spurned by Leaders
By J. A. O'Leory

~ @SOty
ton selected, here is how the situa-
ton shapes up:
Senators Kefauver and Russell OF
Georgia probably will 60 into the
convention with close to 300 votes
each. It takes GIG to win the Demo-
cratic nomination. On the first roll
call the remaining 600 or more dele
gates will be distributed among a
dozen or more favorite-son candi-
dates.
Common Weakness
The weakness in the Kefauver and
Russell camps lies in the fact that
neither has the big block of votes
from New York. Illinois, Pennsyl-
vania, New Jersey, Connecticut.
Massachusetts,, Indiana, Michigan
and Missouri.
On the first ballot most of these
big States will go to favorite sons.
For example, w. Averell Hartman
will have most of New York's 94-vote
delegation. He also has few votes
elsewhere. The Associated Press
credits him with 8512 votes. Mich
igan's 40 votes will go at the start
to Gov. G. Mennen Williams.
Senator Kefauver won half Of
Ohio's 81 votes, but the other q will
start out with former Senator Bulk
ley. There will be a scattering Of
other votes for Senator Humphrey Of
Minnesota, Senator Kerr of Okla
homa, Gov. Dever of Massachusetts,
and Vice President Barkley. The
Associated Press tabulation of dele
gates who are pledged or have made
known their choice also shows IA for
President Truman. despite his with
drawal from the race. These include
IL from Alaska and Hawaii, l from
New York and from Pennsylvania.
Those in the party high command
who think Gov. Stevenson would be
the strongest candidate believe they
could line up most Of the big States
for him if he were to give an unmis-
taxable sign soon that he would not
decline a call from the convention.
The Associated Press tabulation
credits Senator Kefauver with 244
and Senator Russell with only 861a
votes pledged or announced. Much of
Senator RusSell's strength, however,
is in States of the solid South, which
either have not yet chosen delegates
or have left them technically uncom-
mitted. Four years ago, without any
advance planning, Senator Russell
got 263 votes from the Southern
States when President Truman was
being nominated. This year he is
likely to have closer to 800.
More Control
Senator Russell will be key figure
in the final choice of the convention
for two reasons. First, because he
undoubtedly will have greater influ-
ence with his big block Of Southern
supporters than Senator Kefauver is
likely to have over the delegates he
has won in State primaries. Second.
because the party leaders will be anx-
ious to present a united front and
to avoid a long-drawn-o battle.
Such battle is in prospect If the
leaders from the big States fail to
agree early, or If Senator Russell
holds out.
Senator Russell's big handicap Is
the position of the Southern States
on the civil rights issue. But friends
of the Georgia Senator were encour-
aged by Gen. Eisenhower's announce
ment that he believes the States can
do more than the Federal Govern
ment to solve the FEPC problem.
Some Russell supporters here pointed
out that If Gen. Eisenhower wins the
Republican nomination, his state
ment on civil rights would make him
a strong candidate in the South, un-
less the Democrats also nominate q
man popular in that section.
Be that as it may, Democratic
leaders from States like New York,
Illinois. Pennsylvania, Ohio and
Michigan could hardly go for a
nominee committed to the Southern
viewpoint on the civil rights issue.
Some influential Democrats still
talk hopefully Of Stevenson Russell
ticket. which they believe would en-
able them to close ranks and avoid
long and bitter convention fight.
But even If Gov. Stevenson makes
himself available between now and
convention time, Senator Russell has
within the past few days repeated
the statement that he Is not inter-
ested In being Vice President.
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