Evening star., 1952-02-10
By ReImon Morin
Associated Press Sfcff Writer

ity of the Democratic party lead.
ers IN the 48 States believe Presi-
dent Truman will run for re-elec.
ton this year.
They expect him to be nomi'
mated without difficulty. steam
rollering the budding movement
for Senator Kefauver of Tennes-
see, and in spite of the rampant
bitterness that brims in the South
And, they, say they expect him to
win the election, finally.
This pattern Of majority opin-
ion among the Democrats-there
were notable and vehement excep-
tions-emerges from a Nation
wide survey. conducted by ASSo-
ciated Press bureaus all over the
country. They queried Governors,
Senators, national committeeman
and women, State chairmen, and
party leaders, and reported on
trends, sentiments. and grass
roots talk.
In the three States with the
largest convention delegations,
New York, California and Penn
sylvania, party leaders believe the
President is in the race again, and
are proceeding on that assump-
ton. Pennsylvania's State Com
mittee has adopted a resolution
urging him to run.
South Against Truman.
The South will fight to the last
ditch to prevent Mr.. Truman from
being nominated, A.P. bureaus re-
ported, but even there, number
of party heads believe he will run
hoping, at the same time, that
he won't.
In Mississippi. the feeling is so
strong that Walter Sillers, speaker
of the House, said he would not
be surprised if Democrats were to
nominate Republican hope. Gen.
Eisenhower, as the State party's
candidate. A report from North
Carolina noted that some Demo-
Gratis believe Gen. Eisenhower
would run strong" in that State
against Mr.. Truman.
Southern leaders, generally, who
have announced a position ap-
peared to be lining up behind Sem
ator Russell of Georgia and as a
second choice, Senator Byrd OF
Virginia. +
whether the Southern revolt
has reached or exceeded the pro-
portions of 1948 could not be de-
termined.
Some Kefauver Progress.
The survey indicated Senator
Kefauver has made strides in some
States. He has the backing of his
.own State party. His strength in
Florida was described as con-
siderable" although Gov. Fuller
Warren is explosively opposed to
him. Massachusetts reported "a
certain amount of support" Ore
.gon said the movement is modest
but general" and in Wisconsin 1t
was reported as growing" Min
:nesota Democrats said he would
receive serious consideration, If
-" The "if" meant Harry Tru-
man.
In other States, as well. Demo-
cratic chiefs gave cautious and
provisional support to the Tennes-
sean, depending on some definite
word from the White House.
The names of Gov. Adlai Stew
.enson of Illinois, Senator Kerr OF
oklahoma, and House Speaker
.Rayburn, appeared in the reports
But the one name that appeared
to dominate the picture was
Z ss'Harry Truman.
: Following is a State-by-S State
report. Bracketed figures show
convention votes:
: ALABAMA (22)
: States Fighters favor Senator
Russell, but there has been no
active campaigning. State Chair
:man Ben Ray has not indorsed
amy one and probably will not
until after the nomination. Ala
lbama delegates who did not walk
out of the 1948 convention backed
Senator Russell, and are expected
to vote for some Southerner this
time.
ARIZONA (12)
Democratic leaders have made
no definite commitments. They
favor Senator Mcfarland for Vice
President. Sentiment is against
Senator Kefauver.
ARKANSAS (22)
Gov. McMath, titular head Of
the party, said he would not in
.struct the States delegation, but
hopes they will vote for Mr.. Tru-
man if he seeks reelection. The
Governor also said he hoped the
President would run. Party lead
-ers have made no comments on
Senator Kefauver's announce
:ment, but Gov. McMath said "he's
a good man."
CALIFORNIA 1857.
California leaders are proceed
ing on the theory the President
will run and are picking slate of
delegates pledged to him for the
primary, June 8. The Kefauver
supporters include virtually no
prominent Democrats, but are
planning to file a slate. There has
been some discussion of pledging
a delegation to a "favorite son"
candidate or to California born
-Adlai Stevenson.
COLORADO t16).
;, National Committeeman Barney
L. Whatley said he personally is
for the President. and believes he
will run if Senator Taft is the
C. o. P. choice. "If the Republi-
cans nominate anybody else, the
campaign might be forced on do
nestle issues and Truman may
not run. There's some interest in
,Kefauver, but you couldn't call ii
support-after all, we don't have
TV and haven't seen him"
CONNECTICUT Q6).