Evening star., 1952-05-19
ADA Votes 10 Defer
Backing a Candidate
Until Conventions End

;, UIlIII kVnvenIIOnS EnO
Americans for Democratic Ac-
ltion today were in a wait-and-see
position before the organization
commits itself on a candidate for
the presidency.
The organization in a stormy
final session of its fifth annual
convention, voted not to make any
Endorsement for the presidency
until after the national party con-
ventions are held.
Some speakers asserted A. d. A.
was acting as it did so that it
would be free to support Gov
Adlai E. Stevenson of Illinois If
he is nominated by the Democrats
at Chicago.
Lists 'NOt Closed"
This contention was supported
by the convention declaration
that there is no reason to sup
pose the lists are closed" for the
presidential race.
Gov. Stevenson has said he is
not candidate. Feeling has been
growing, however, that he can be
drafted.
The convention also served no
tice it will not support a national
ticket drawn up "for the sake of
artificial balance" This appar-
emily was aimed at Senator Rus
sell. Democrat. of Georgia, who is
c a mp paigning for presidential
nomination.
i Delegates had spoken derisively
of those advocating a Northern
liberal like Gov. Stevenson for the
presidency, with a Southerner
like Senator Russell on the ticket
for vice president.
The delegates did not confine
themselves to discussion of Demo-
cratic candidates. There were
some oratorical swings at the
views Of Gen. Eisenhower anc
Senator Taft of Ohio. the lead.
ers in the race for the Republi.
can presidential nomination.
Partisans Back Stand.
The decision to delay an en-.
dorsement was supported by par
ltisans of Senator Kefauver o
Tennessee, leading in the contes
for Democratic nomination dele
gates; Gov. Stevenson, and w
Averell Hartman Of New York
who claims he is the best quail
fled man in the Democratic nomi
nation race.
Demonstrations from the moo
, indicated to observers that Gov
Stevenson had the most popula
= support among the 692 delegate
registered for the nth annua
convention Of the organization
, formed with the avowed ain
I of furthering the principles o
Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Stanley Isaacs, Republican lead
: er on the New York City Council
: protested against what he callet
; the democratic atmosphere" o
the convention. He said It hat
been heightened by Presiden
3 Truman's slashing attacks on Re
! publicans in his banquet speech.
Biddle Invites Republicans. :
Francis Biddle, former Attorne.
General and president Of tn
8 organization, apologized for wha
= he said was an unfortunate i'm
preston that ADA Is q Democrati
Party adjunct. He said the organ
, ization's doors are open to Repub
! licans "who think as we do" s
MIR. Biddle said the Arrange
ments Committee just didn't ge
around to providing delegates will
/ biographies Of Gen. Eisenhowe
and Gov. Earl Warren Of Cali
fornia. although it did hand ou
sketches Of most Of the potentia
Democratic candidates.
6 A statement on national elec
. ton policy adopted by the or
ganization instructs its 68-mem
ber lineup of national board ON
cials and officers to make an in
! ! dorsement of a presidential can
: : didate after the two parties hav
:, made their nominations. The in
dorsement would require a two
thirds vote of the SO officials.
t The criticism Of Gen. Eisen
= hover came from James Wechs
q Ter, editor of the New York Pos
e after Mickey Levine, q New Yor
a delegate. was booed when he sug
S gested that Gov. Stevenso
). doesn't want to run against Ger
e Eisenhower.
Notes '48 Endorsement.
= Noting that the ADA had in
dorsed Gen. Eisenhower for tn
Democratic nomination in 1914,
Mr.. Levine said he had yet
hear anything in Gen. Eisen
# hower's record that has change
r the point of view Of our organiza
IS ton from 1948."
g 1--WE ought to pray that tn
E nominee will not be some one lik
r. Senator Taft" he declared.