Evening star., 1952-05-04
Kefouver Not Preferred
But May Be Nominated
Writer Sees Democrats With
Nowhere Else to Go
By Fronk R. Kent

In the split and confused state in
which the Democratic party now finds
itself, the chances that Senator Estes
Kefauver may emerge from its conven-
ton as the presidential nominee appear
to increase. It is interesting, too, that
the closer General Eisenhower ap-
proaches the Republican nomination
(and his striking victory in Massachu-
sets brings him very close. indeed the
larger the coonskin-capped Tennessean
looms as the Democratic choice.
Strangely enough. this is not due to any
particular public appeal developed by
Mr.. Kefauver; nor to anything he has
said, done or stands for. Rather, 1t is
because Of the situation that three lead
ing Democrats-Mr. Truman, Chief
Justice Vinson and Governor Stevenson
have created by refusing q nominal
ton which they could have had. That,
in itself. is unprecedented in party his
tory. When the three best known and
outstanding availables Withdrew. it left
o field in which, on the basis Of tele.
vision conduct of his Crime Committee,
Mr.. Kefauver was almost the only active
aSpirant. Under these conditions he has
been winning primaries and picking UP
votes because he was largely unopposed.
Yet there is no real desire among
party leaders to nominate Mr.. Kefauver.
On the contrary, there is q strong dis
taste for him among many, from the
President down, despite his primary vote.
Nor is there any discernible demand for
him among the people. Though Mr..
Truman personally dislikes him, there
is slight difference between them on
policies! Senator Kefauver is strongly
against sin but he has the same Servile
leanings toward the CIO. no convinc.
ing convictions about curtailing govern.
mental waste or changing the drift to-
ward socialism, which has marked our
course for 10 years. He Is unbeloved in
the South and not outStandingly popu-
lar anywhere. though there Is some
voting allure in his Salvation Army
campaign methods.
Considering these things I'm connec.
ton with the concededly poor prospects
of party success, 1t Is not surprising
there should be talk among administra-
tion politicians NATURALLY anxious to
avert change) Of drafting" either Mr..
Truman or Governor Stevenson not
withstanding their frm declarations
that they are out. Certainly. there is
slight prospect that this drafting"
could be done. To make it possible both
the President and the Governor would
not only have to eat their words but
also connive in the draft" In addition.
If the draft" were achieved the chances
of victory at the polls concededly would
not be good-and both know it.
Nevertheless. the White House poll
ticians insist that enough pressure"
can be applied, If not to force the Presi-
dent to change his mind ut least to
make Mr.. Stevenson change his. Should
the Republicans (who meet first) nomi-
nate Senator Taft it is conceded tho
the chances would be greatly enhanced.
On the other hand. should Gen. Eisen-
hover become the Republican standard
bearer. it would become impossible Ito
draft" either. The reason is clear. II
Mr.. Taft is nominated. after overwhelm-
ing evidence Of the popular desire for
like" the Democrats might be justified
in believing he could be beaten. But
with Gen. Eisenhower nominated. the
Democratic candidates hope Of election
would be so remote that the nomina-
ton would seem undesirable save to
one who would rather be licked than
IlOb dU I'LL. LICSS CACuLu-
stances. Mr.. Kefauver would seem the
logical man.
Neither the aged Vice President.
Alben Barkley. nor the amiable w. Aver
ell Hartman. nor the oil millionaire.
Senator Robert Kerr. offer any better
choice-if as good. AS for Senator
Richard Russell of Georgia, who in
ability and character is perhaps the
outstanding man Of them all. he can't
be nominated-so 1t is said-because
the party would lose every Negro vote
in the pivotal States Of the North and
the labor-un support as well.
OF course. the thing for which the
Democrats pray is for the Republicans
to turn down Eisenhower and nominate
Taft. That is what they would love.
but after Massachusetts few believe it
is possible to be that stupid. Failure
to get that "break" seems to leave
them nowhere to 90 except to MIR.
Kefauver.