Evening star., 1952-03-25
The Political Mil
Three Candidates Cloud
Situation Of Democrats
Others WGit on the SideIines
Reody to Enter in Scramble
By Gould Lincoln

Three announced candidates for the
Democratic presidential nomination. two
of them strongly opposed to the renom-
ination Of President Truman and the
third o stand In" for Mr. Truman II
he chooses to run, help TO cloud the situ-
alton for the Democratic Party The
three are Senators Kefauver Of Tennes-
see, Russell of Georgia and Kerrof Okla
homa. They are doing all the running
at the present hour. Four or five other
gentlemen who also may take part in
the scramble for the Democratic nom
ination are on the sidelines.
One Of these is Senator Humphrey Of
Minnesota, who apparently has con-
vinced himself that Mr.. Truman viii not
run. The Minnesota Senator, for that
reason, has announced the Northern
Democrats, particularly the Fair Deal
Democrats. must get together to nomi-
nate q presidential candidate ready to
go down the line for the Truman pro-
gram. He might. himself. be prevailed
on to I'LL the niche.
There Is, too, the everything Asso-
ciate Justice William o. Douglas, who
halls from Oregon. and another Doug
las, the Senator from Illinois. not to
mention a brace of Midwest Governors,
Stevenson Of Illinois and Williams of
Michigan. If President Truman has
picked any one Of the lot for his sue
cessor, he's made no public announce
ment Of the fact, The nearest he has
come is distinct pat on the back for
Gov. Stevenson Of Illinois. The Presi-
dent has no desire to see Senator
Kefauver nominated.
Won't Overlook Black Eye.
The Tennessee Senator not long ago,
by winning the New Hampshire primary
against Mr. Truman himself, gave the
President black eye he is not likely to
overlook. The President would not care
to see Senator Russell, whose principal
task today is to prevent Mr.. Truman
from having another term in the White
House, made the party nominee, either.
The situation is aggravated still fur
ther, both for the President and the
Democratic Party, by the contest in
which Senators Kefauver and Kerr are
engaged for the preference Of the Demo-
cratic voters In Nebraska. If the Ten
nessean wins this, 1t will be another
slap in the face for Mr.. Truman, and
will be so interpreted. Signs appear to
"
tor Kerr, who was invited into the
Nebraska primary by the party organi-
zation last February. at first took 1t for
granted he would win in walk. After
the New Hampshire primary. however.
he took to running. and has campaigned
up and down the State. A millionaire
himself, Mr.. Kerr Is well heeled finan-
cially for this fight, and money will be
spent.
It seems that Senator Kerr, like Sena-
tor Humphrey, has come around to be-
lieving the President will not run. That
being the case. the millionaire oil man
figures the lightning might strike him.
He figures, too, that Senator Kefauver
cannot make the grade because the
South does not care to support man
who votes often with Truman policies.
that Russell will fail because of lack of
Northern support, and that Stevenson
will not be nominated because he was
a character witness for Alger Hiss and
also because Of the horse -meat scandals
in Illinois. So well does Senator Kerr
think of the situation that he authorized,
his entry in the California primary, too.
where he will meet Senator Kefauver
again. A defeat at the hands of Sena-
tor Kefauver in Nebraska on April /
might easily write flnis to the Kerr
ambitions. however.
Views Campaign With Dim Eye.
Reports are that Gov. Stevenson Is
at best a reluctant potential candidate
for the Democratic presidential nom-
nation. He views a presidential CAM
paign with dim eye, particularly If
Gen. Eisenhower should be the Repub-
lican nominee. He is, indeed. cam
didate to succeed himself as Governor.
OF the other possibilities, Senator
Douglas Of Illinois would have real
support in the Midwest and Far West,
If the convention is left to make its own
choice. Senator Douglas, however, has
run afoul of Mr.. Truman on several
occasions: for example, in the RFC in
vestigation and In opposition to fea-
lures of the Presidents budget. This
leaves Mr.. Justice Douglas. who declined
to run on the ticket with Mr.. Truman
in 1948, and Mennen williams. Gov.
Williams is an attractive young man,
with q lot on the ball.
Some day before long Mr.. Truman
will have to flsh or cut bait; make
choice of q successor or run himself.
He's not getting anywhere fast as
things now stand.