Evening star., 1954-10-19
GO P. Picks Educator to Run
In Place of StringfelIoW
Dr.. Henry A. Dixon
Selected in Utah
AS House Condidote
By ihe Associated Press

Utah Republican leaders last
night named DR.. Henry Aldous
Dixon, prominent Utah educa-
tor. to replace Representative
Douglas r. Stringfellow on the
1st district congressional ballot.
Mr.. Stringfellow had admitted
that his story of wartime heroics
was a hoax.
After making the seIection the
Republican leaders withheld an
nouncement for 25 minutes
while pleading with Dr. Dixon
to accept the nomination.
Their action followed unani-
nous acceptance Of the resigna-
tion of Mr.. Stringfellow from
his bid for reelection.
DR.. Dixon, who is 90. is pres
ident of Utah State Agricultural
College in Logan, and consid-
cred to be the only strong g.
o. p. possibility in the populous.
Northern Utah areas of the dis
trict. The 1st district includes
all Of Utah except Salt Lake
City and its surrounding metro
politan area.
Stringfellow at Meeting,
The evening had its share Of
drama. A red-eyed Mr.. String
fellow told the g. o. p. State
committeeman that he had not
confessed the bogus nature Of
his story of wartime heroism
sooner because:
IT just did not have the
courage. I never found the
way"
He appeared at the committee
meeting last night moments
after the group unanimously
voted to accept the withdrawal
he had proffered only a few
hours before. He received a
standing ovation. Then, in a
voice sometimes shaken by sup
pressed sobs. he said:
You could have made no
other decision. God bless you
for your courage and fortnight
action. In your presence I'd
like to apologize"
Plead With Dixon.
But the evenings climax actu-
ally came when harried party
officials. after counting a ballot
that had given the nomination
to DR.. Dixon by an unofficial
73-to-19 vote, learned that DR.
Dixon had left Salt Lake City
some time before with a parting
announcement that he would
not accept.
Frantic telephoning finally
located the educator in the home
of a son in Ogden. Then. while
some 90 members of the 128-
man Republican State Central
Committee milled about in a
room on the floor below, top
State officials took turns plead
ing with DR.. Dixon, his wife Luz
cille, and then DR.. Dixon to
change his mind.
Ironically, the; call was taken
in the campaign headquarters
of the Democratic Party-the
only telephone Immediately
available in the hotel where the
meeting took place.
Taking turns at the telephone
were Senator Watkins, Republi-
can. of Utah, chairman Of the
recent committee to investigate
censure charges against Senator
Mccarthy. Republican. of Wis
consin. Utah Gov. j. Bracken
Lee and Jack v. McLea OF Roo
sevelt. a member of the. Agri-
cultural Colleges board of trus-
tees.
AT length. Mr.. Dixon accepted
his party's call. his nomination
was announced and the COM
mittee voted to make it unani-
nous.
MIR. Stringfellow, a flrst-term
representative in the 83d Con-
gress, precipitated the pre-elec-
tion crisis Saturday night when
he dramatically announced via
radio and television that he had
been living lie as a war hero
for years.
The disabled veteran, 80, mar
ried and the father of two, con-
fessed that his story of q
behind d-the-lines mission into
World War II Germany-a story
that had helped win him ma
tional prominence-was a hoax.
His announcement came a few
days after the Army Times. an
unofficial Washington publica-
ton, printed a copyrighted story
questioning his story. Mr..
Stringfellow at first charged the
story was politically inspired.