The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1954-10-07
THE GREAT
GAME OF
POLITICS
THE Front Runner"
By FRANK r. KENT
Copyright by The Baltimore Sun and re
printed In The Republican by permission


servers suddenly appeared to dis
cover that Mr. Adlai Stevenson, Of
Illinois, is a candidate for renomi-
nation for the presidency by the
Democratic Convention Of 1886. In
asmuch as Mr. Stevcnson's agile
little feet have been propclling
him after this denomination at d
pace not exceeded by any other
undercover or open candidate who
can be recalled, ii is a little diff
cult to understand why these OBJ
servers did not discover the fact
long ago or, if they did discover it,
why they forbore to mention it.
Most practical politicians have
agreed that he is doing all he can
now-and for months past to pro-
mote mis- candidacy. So is his hand
picked chairman. Mr.. Stephen
Mitchell, who says he will resign
right after this November election,
it being clear that his retention of
the craftsmanship, under the cir
cumstanceS, would he msccmly.
make the job too obviously per
sonal and partisan. He does not
say all this, but it is fact none
the less. However, if the Demo-
Gratis acquire control Of the next
Congress there is no way to keep
some of the credit from going to
the noble Adlai. Not only will he
have been the most conspicuous
Democratic speaker Of the cam
paign (Mr. Mitchell has seen to
that, but he will also have con
firmed his claim as the titular
leader of the party.
Nevertheless, not all (cither
Democratic or Republican, titular
party leaders have gained the
presidential nomination they COW
eted particularly after a defeat
so smashing as was Mr.. Steven
sons in 1852. Since that time he
has kept himself in the public eye
in various ways-by taking a we'll
pubiczed trip around the world,
by writing numerous newspaper
and magazine articles and by max
ing countless speeches in all parts
of the country. Some Of these have
been good but all Of them have
been critical. Gradually. as tlt
campaign progressed, the Steven
son speeches have become more
partisan, even on foreign policy.
until at times, except for being
better phrased, they are not easy
to tell from Mr. Humans, Senator
Humphreys, and Mr.. Mitchell's.
Certainly, as Vice President Nixon
recently said, he has criticized
everything but offered nothing at
all as a Stevenson program.
One thing he has done-and
very expertly-he has reaffimed
his 1852 campaign alliance with
the labor bosses Of the big unions,
with the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. farm
leaders and with the always dis
satisfied Negro leaders, all Of
whom have been Democratic since
1886 and certainly were solidly for
him in 1852. The Supreme Courts
segregation decision and the obvi-
Gus friendliness Of General Eisen-
hover may have permeated the
rank and file of the Negroes as it
has the rank and file of labor
unionists, but it certainly has not
permeated their leaders. The lead
ers are about as anti-EisenhoWer
as they well can be and almost
without exception they are pro-
Stevenson.
Actually, what Mr.. Stevenson is
doing-or at least trying very hard
to dds to hold together behind
him those three elements-the la
Dor unionists, the pro-New Deal
farmers, the professional liberals
and the New Deal Negroes. That
was the combination which elected
Mr.. Roosevelt three times and Mr..
rn,,,,,D,o,, orno Of oD,,rco +bora ,Itn,,a
other elements-and a good deal
of luck-but those were the con
trolling ones. The trouble about
that combination now is that it has
been beaten once-and very badly
beaten with Mr.. Stevenson as its
candidate.
Another trouble with the combi-
nation is that it's constituent Gle
ments are not quite so compact and
individually solid as before. One
reason for this is that President
Eisenhower, it is agreed by nearly
all observers and attested by every
poll, not only has held his personal
popularity in the country but in
some places increased it. Still an
other is that Mr. Stevenson, agile,
able and adroit as he is, has not
gained in public esteem nor at
tracted new support rather the
reverse.
His journalistic enthusiasts have
dubbed him "The Front Runner"
and Front Runner" he unques-
tionably is at this time. What his