Evening star., 1954-12-06
stevenson Held Sure
To Be '56 Candidate
Despite Eased Dulles
BY Gould Lincoln
Star sfnff c.nrresnondenf

NEW ORLEANS. Dec. 6.-Ad-
lai Stevenson appears today an
almost certain candidate for the
Democratic nomination for
President in 1856 l1otWithstand-
ing his announcement Saturday
night he is taking a sabbatical
year from politics.
It is evident from the state
ment that he left the door wide
open to run again ii he desired.
From present indications, he will
be under great pressure to toss
his hat into the ring.
Further, he has told friends
he Believes that President Eisen-
hover can be defeated. if the
President seeks a second term.
His reasoning is that Gen. Eisen-
hover has been unable to pull
the Republican Party up to his
own level of popularity. as shown
by the results of the recent con-
gressional and State elections.
It Is his reasoning, too, that dur
ing the next two years, the Re-
publican Party, because of its
wide divisions, will demonstrate
1t is not capable of giving the
people the kind of Government
which they. desire.
Private Affairs Now Come First.
MIR. Stevenson was quite sim
cere when he told the Demo-
cratic leaders. gathered here
Saturday from all parts of the
country for their victory dinner,
that in the future II cannot par
ticipate in party affairs as rigor-
ously as in the past" He added
he will continue to maintain a
deep interest in the progress of
the Democratic Party. He said
he had had a glorious expert
ence" during the presidential
campaign OF 1862 and afterwards
at Embarrassing dinners, and
campaigning for the election of
Democratic candidates this year.
But now" he added, ~ must
devote my time to private affairs.
I hope you will understand that
reflects no ingratitude on my
part for the high honors you
have heaped upon me-"
The fact OF the matter is Mr.
Stevenson has given as much
time to the party during the last
two years as he can afford. both
physically and financially. He
has spoken often and In all parts
of the country He is tired and
he needs rest. On the financial
side, he has been compelled to
neglect entirely the practice of
law.
To Revamp Law Office.
He has made money. it is true,
by writing many articles for.
various publications. He has
private resources. too, on which
he has drawn. But he has been
forced to MAINTAIN an Office force
Of three or four. people, and it
has cost him upwards of $25, 900
q year So he feels he must give
attention to hiss own private
affairs. One of his first acts IS
expected to be a revamping of
his law Office for the purpose of
active practice.
He has been under constant
pressure during the last two
years to accept invitations to
speak-and if he had accepted
all the invitations. he would be
speaking two or three times a
day. He has received, too, a
tremendous amount of mail, all
of which had to be answered.
And so the need for an office
force.
When the 1862 campaign end
ed Mr. Stevenson found himself
and the party faced with a debt
. little under ST nillion-about
$850,000. He felt obligated
to help raise the funds to pay it
of He agreed 10 speak at many
$100-a-plate dinners, a source of
much revenue for party funds.
Today the party debts have been
paid of and the Democratic Ma
tional Committee is in the black
for the first time in two years.
Organization Improvement.
In addition, Mr.. Stevenson
has become convinced that the
Republican Party, because of its
disSensions and it's divisions, was
Ineffective and unable to govern
well. He also had discovered
for himself that the Democratic
Party had become weak in lead
ership in many of the States
and needed an oyerhauling.
Today he believes that the
Democratic Party, organiza-
tionally. has been tremendously
improved. Much Of the dead
wood accumulated in two dec
ades of Democratic control OF
the Government has been re-
moved. New faces and new
blood have come into the organ
ization. from top to bottom
While some weak spots still re-
main, the party showed Its
strength III the 1854 elections.
Mr.. Stevenson gives great
credit to Democratic Natior1a
Chairman Stephen A. Mitchell
for rebuilding the organization
an operation which MI. Steven.
son believes will be continued
under the direction of the new
chairman, Paul NJ. Butler o.
Indiana. who will take over Jan
uary /, after Mr.. Mitchell's res