Evening star., 1954-12-19
Stevenson's S Candidacy
In 1856 Now Assured
Writer Says Democrats Have
No Other important Leader.
By Fronk r. Kent

by fronk K. Kent
BY now almost every political OBJ
server Is convinced that Adlai
Stevenson will be renominated for
the presidency by the Democratic Ma.
tional Convention In 1856. There Is.
they say, really nothing else to 1t. The
reasons for this conviction are clear
and, for the most part. undiSputed.
First, Of course, Is the fact that Mr..
Stevenson, by the activity Of his cam.
paigning and his contrived hold Of the
party organization. through friendly
new chairman, has established his utu.
lar leadership rather firmly.
Second. there Is the undeniable fact
that Mr.. Stevenson wants the re-
nomination even more ardently than
he wanted nomination In 1882. Prob.
ably he is wise to avoid fiat announce
ment Of his candidacy 0 year and Q
half ahead Of the convention. He may
conclude that Mr.. Eisenhower, who
almost surely will run again. would
beat him In 1856 as easily eS In 1852
and that there Is no percentage In
being twice defeated aspirant. How.
ever, no amount Of coyness now dis
guises that he Is the natural, logical,
almost inevitable Democratic choice.
Literally there is no one else. Just
look at the list. Outstanding is Gov
ernor-elect Averell Hartman with his
known presidential ambitions and his
big New York delegation. Yet. no one
thinks he can make the grade In Sc.
For one thing he has already pledged
himself to Mr.. Stevenson; for another,
in year and half he would have no
chance to make record, good or bad.
as Governor. And there are other rea-
sons. AS to Senator Kefauver, his
chief claim to fame Is based on his
televised vice probe Of four years ago.
although that has almost faded from
the public mind. AS to the Roosevelts
Games and Franklin) both are now
utterly navailable-James for reasons
that perhaps 1t is better not to repeat.
and Franklin because he got so severe
a trouncing last election In New York
that the idea Of there being magic in
his name or in his personality Is washed
up.
The only Democratic Senators who
seem Of presidential stature are Harry
Byrd of Virginia and Richard Russell
Of Georgia. But both are from the
South which still is an insuperable
bar in bar which depends so much
upon the Negro vote in so many States.
In addition, neither Senator Byrd nor
Senator Russell would pay the price of
servility to the labor bosses. the farmer
lobbyists and the Negro politicians
which Mr.. Stevenson did pay in 1882
and which his utterances and attitude
show him willing to pay again. With
out that price no Democrat stands
much chance Of election. At least that
seems the practically unanimous belief.
Senator Symington Of Missouri, first
class man, will make no effort to gain
the nomination-and no one will be
nominated who does not make q very
real effort.
Considering these things the most
recent discussion about Mr.. Stevenson,
projected not by his critics but by his
friends. Is interesting and somewhat
amusing. The question raised is whether
from now on it will be good politics
for the eloquent and bubbling Adlai
to continue being funny in his public
utterances, or whether it will be better
altogether to cut out the quips, quirks,
puns and cracks, deal seriously with
situations as they arise. avoid satire,
sarcasm and subtlety. There, of course,
are two sides to this.
One view is that Mr.. Stevenson Is
a natural wit and to suppress all evi-
dence Of this gift would be to change
his whole personality. Moreover, It Is
pointed out his witty speeches have
greatly pleased his audiences Of the
last two years. They like his sly jibes
at his opponents and they genuinely
enjoy little clowning. The other
view is that while undoubtedly his
audiences like his style, there is con-
siderable doubt whether the American
people as a whole want a funnyman
in the White House.
Particularly say those who wish him
to cut out being cutup. 1t does not
compare very favorably with the SIM
plicity and sincerity Of Gen. Ike, who
has few polished phrases. avoids
personalities. but most unmistakably
means what he says. However, this
question Of whether the good Adlai
should stay being funny or go serious
has been brought UP publicly by his
friends. 30 it seems their job-and
settle 1t.