Evening star., 1952-07-24
BaI|oting Due to Begin Tonight;
Southern Vote Decision Awaited
Many Delegates
Begin to Hop
On Bundwoqon
BY the Associated Press

CHICAGO, July ga swing to
Gov. Stevenson of Illinois took
what even some opponents con-
ceded had the look of a band
wagon roll today with the Demo-
cratic Convention nearing the
point of picking its presidential
nominee.
Many delegates who had been
holding back were hopping in be-
hind the Illinois Governor.
Two more States-Kansas and
1owa-joined the bandwagon be-
fore the convention opened today.
Gets Another Boost.
The Stevenson boom got still
another boost when Gov. Paul A.
Dever of Massachusetts,. conven-
ton keynoter. announced he would
vote for the Illinois Governor on
the second ballot. He said he had
made no recommendation to other
delegates as to how they should
vote. The 36 Massachusetts voters
were to go to Gov. Dever on the
first ballot as a favorite son.
In the first formal test Of
Kansas sentiment, the delegates
voted in caucus today to cast all
their 16 votes for Gov. Stevenson
on the first ballot. Gov. Steven
son gained 912 of the Kansas
voteS-enough to bind all 16
under the unit rule Kansas uses.
The. way was left open for an
other possible caucus later.
In a pre-balloting poll, Iowa
delegates voted to give Gov. Stew
enson 8 of their "a votes. The
poll is not binding. The Governors
Iowa gain amounted to AZ votes.
Others Pick Up Votes.
But Senator Russell of Georgia
and Senator Kefauver of Ten
nessee also were picking up votes
from the big bloc of hitherto un-
committed delegates and weren't
conceding a thing. Averell Har-
riman, the Mutual Security di-
rector, also was still plugging hard
for the conventions grand prize.
Sentaor Kefauver, in a news
conference, declared: I'm quite
confident I'll be nominated" He
said he had picked up more than
60" delegates in the last 36 hours.
Meanwhile, delegates were lis
tening for Gov. StevenSon'S an
swer to the question: Will he
accept the presidential nomina-
ton if his fellow delegates wrap
it up for delivery?
Newsmen gathered outside the
Illinois governors temporary Chi
cago residence last night, sent in
word of a radio report that he
had agreed to accept the nomina-
tion. The report said Gov. Steven
son was writing an acceptance ad-
dress.
An aide brought out this reply:
Nothing to it."
Receives John L. Lewis Aide.
Earlier in the evening the gov
ernor received two visitors-Welly
K. Hopkins, attorney for john l..
Lewis United Mine Workers, and
David Charnay, who does public
relations work for the UNIV and
also for Senator Russell.
Mr.. Hopkins told reporters
afterward he had called to "pay
his respects" He did not elabo-
rate.
Senator Russell said in a state
ment he had no advance knowl-
edge of Mr.. Charnay's visit with
Gov. Stevenson. Senator Russell
added that Mr.. Charnay was not
authorized to speak for him.
William Mccormick Blair, an
administrative assistant to the
Governor. reported Gov. Stevenson
worked on his correspondence last
night. But the Governor took time
out to sit before a televiSion set
while his distant cousin, Vice
President Alben w. Barkley, ad-
dressed the convention.
Gov. Stevenson remained at
Blair's home, 8 miles from the
convention hall. yesterday. Re-
porters and photographers kept
vigil outside.