Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-10
Tie Political Mil
kefuuyer Still Enjoys
a Vote-Getting Ability
People Like Him for His
Modesty. Decency. Honesty
By Gould Lincoln

himself again on the political map Of
1855. BY his impressive victory for
denomination. the Tennessee Senator
runner-up to Adlai Stevenson in the
1852 Democratic National Convention
has demonstrated he still has drawing
power with the voters. Against him in
the recent primary was Representative
Pat sutton, who appeared to have
strong backing. Indeed, there was
plenty OF talk In Tennessee and out
that Senator Kefauver was about 20 he
taken by the vitriolic Mr.. Sutton.
There are people who contend that
Estes would have been bestes'-or GER
tainly better-against Gen. Eisenhower
IN 1852 than was Gov. Stevenson Of
Illinois They figured that Senator
kefauver had won himself a great fol-
lowing as Q result Of the much-publi-
cized Senate crime investigation, which
ne ran IS chairman Of the Senate COM
mittee. The public followed the tele-
vised hearings Of that crime investiga-
ton % ayidly as it did the more recent
Army-McCarthy hearings.
Candidate In 1856?
So Senator Kefauver may be expected
TO cast his hat in the ring again, come
1855. A modest man. he has not hung
back. no matter how exalted his oppo-
sition was considered. It was he who
tangled with the Democratic organizes
ton in New Hampshire, which wanted
to send pro- Truman delegate to the
party's national convention in 1852.
Mr.. Truman. then President, had not
declared himself out Of the presidential
race when the first of the presidential
preferential primaries was held early
in March. Senator Kefauver won hands
down. He went on from there, defeat
ing Senator Kerr Of Oklahoma in the
Nebraska presidential primary, and
picking up delegate votes hither and
yon, until he had an impressive array.
He might have gone farther in the
national convention. had not Mr.. Tru-
man thrown his full strength back Of
the candidacy Of Gov. Stevenson.
A weakness of the Kefauver candi-
dacy two years ago was his lack Of
support in his own section of the coun-
try-outside of Tennessee. He was
considered too much OF Fair-New
Dealer In consequence, instead of
rallying to Senator Kefauver, the
~0NSAANAA DCAAONA QIo RluAlhCO 1OI 0SIld-
tor. Russell Of Georgia. Indeed, had
Senator Kefauver been able to get the
Russell delegates from the South, he
would have been mighty hard man
to stop in Chicago. Undoubtedly, Sena-
tor kefauver will try to build himself
up south of Mason and Dixon's line
during the coming year and half, in
the hope that the voters will take more
kindly to him. Presumably, many Of
them would prefer Senator Kefauver
to Mr.. Stevenson, who during the 1852
campaign took on the Truman political
hue completely. If the Democrats
should take over the Senate in the
November elections, Senator Kefauver
would necessarily have good committee
assignments, offering him an oppor-
tunity.
When 1856 rolls around, therefore,
1t is necessary to consider whether
Senator Russell or some other Demo-
cratic Senator or Governor from the
South will be in there trying to hold
the Southern delegates in line Sena-
tor Kefauver has made many friends in
all parts OF the country, with his con-
slant campaigning.
Some Possibilities.
Take look at the Democratic presi-
dental possibilities. Mr.. Stevenson, as
the titular head Of the party, seems to
have the inside track for the moment.
There are other Democrats, however, in
addition to Senator Kefauver, who are
looking the situation over with interest.
AT least two Senators, Symington OF
Missouri and Kerr of Oklahoma (the
latter, who like Senator Kefauver has
just won renomination), are among
them. Gov. Mennen Williams of Mich
1gan and Gov. Lausche of Ohio, both
OF whom are seeking reelection and
likely to win, are others. And should
Representative Franklin D. Roosevelt.
jr., of New York by any chance win
election as Governor of the Empire
State, he would control the big Dem
ocratic delegation to the national con-
vention and himself perhaps be a
formidable candidate.
All Of these gentlemen hold public
office-and Mr.. Stevenson is out of
office, His greatest hope would be that
these other potential candidates would
SO split the votes Of the convention that
finally the convention would turn to
him again.
Senator Kefauver, quietly persistent,
has more on the ball when it comes to
campaigning than some. snowy politi-
clans. People like Senator Kefauyer. He
is decent and honest-and he doesn't
go rampaging around with bitter per-
sonal attacks on his opponents.