Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-02
The Political Min
Stevenson Will Not Get
Nomination on q Plutter
Hurrimon and Kefuuver
Look Like Reel contenders
The Political Min

Horrimun and Kefuuver
Look Like Reel Contenders
BY GOULD LINCOLN
If Adlai Stevenson wishes q presi-
dental nomination at the hands Of the
Democrats next year. it appears now
he will have to fight for it. The DEM
ocratic National Convention of 1852
turned to the then Governor of Illinois
because it was not satisfied with any
of the active candidates for the party's
presidential nomination. The South
did not cotton to Senator Estes Ke-
fauver of Tennessee-one Of their own
because they considered him New
Dealer. The South preferred Senator
Russell of Georgia. The North would
not go along with Senator Russell. 1t
figured Senator Russell would lose the
Democrats the support Of the Negro
vote, which they had had since the adj
vent of the late President Franklin D.
Roosevelt.
w. Averell Hartman. the favorite-
son candidate of New York in those
days, had won no spurs in the field Of
oOt. NC1tlACh EtAhAahAo was
considered too young. President Harry
S. Truman had taken himself effec-
lively out of the race. Senator Paul
III. Douglas of Illinois was liked by
some, but not as much as Gov. Steven
son, who had the backing of the Chi
cago organization So it was natural
the convention should turn to Adlai
Stevenson. The Democrats go for Gov
errors. anyway, when it comes to hand
ing out presidential nominations. Mr..
Stevenson, two years earlier, had car
ried Illinois. an important State. by
huge majority over his Republican OPP
ponent.
e Practically Draft
What happened to Mr. Stevenson.
therefore, in 1852 came as near being
a draft as any presidential nomination
in the past-with the exception Of
George Washington. Washington, by
the way, was not candidate of any
political party. He was the choice Of
the country and its leaders of that day.
President Truman gave Mr.. Stevenson
his particular blessing. too. The then
President wished to see his administra-
ton indicated by Democratic VIC
tory, but he did not care for the cam
didateS who were out beating the
bushes for convention votes. Also, he
figured that Mr.. Stevenson would be
the party's strongest candidate. Few
Democrats at the time, except Mr.. Ste
venson himself, seemed to realize how
irresistible Gen. Eisenhower would be
as a presidential candidate.
The Democratic national organiza-
ton is preponderantly set up in favor
of Mr. Stevenson's denomination. Mr..
Stevenson, the most brilliant political
speaker of the day, has many firm sup
porters throughout the country He
has with him, too, all the "eggheads."
who thought they could elect him in
1882 On the other hand, many Demo-
Gratis feel he would not make coed
candidate next year for two main rea-
sons: First, he would enter the race as
q once-beaten candidate, considerable
psychological handicap. They look to
the thrice-defeated William JENNINGS
Bryan as an example in their own
party, and to former Gov. Thomas E.
Dewey of New York as Republican
example who failed to win election in
1914 and lost again in 1948. Second,
quite a number of the Democrats say
frankly they think that Stevenson does
not talk the language of the ordinary
man, the kind of language which for
mer President Truman used SO effec-
lively to win an uphill battle in 1948.
Hartman Contender
Aside from these arguments, there IS
another probable major stumbling block
in the way of any draft" Of Mr.. Ste
venson next year. It is the snowballing
idea that Gov. Hartman Of New York
will prove strong contender for the
1856 presidential nomination. If Mr..
Hartman goes out after the nomina-
ton, it will not be the same as in 1852.
Mr. Hartman Is Governor Of the most
populous State in the Union, with the
largest electoral vote in presidential
elections and the largest delegation in
Democratic national conventions. He
is in Office, and Mr.. Stevenson is pri-
vate citizen.
Senator Kefauver cannot be laughed
off, either. If he gets into the cam
paign, he will do so vigorously He
showed in 1852 his ability and he won
a surprising lot of delegates in various
presidential preferential primaries. The
South may not cotton to him, but 1T
probably would rather take him than
Mr.. Stevenson next year. Senator Rus
sell undoubtedly would again be the
favored candidate of the Southern Dem
ocrats. But Mr.. Russell has so far given
no assurance he will get into the ring
again.
Undoubtedly there will be clamor
that Mr.. Stevenson get into the presi-
dental primaries early next year II
he entered and won some quick vic
tories, his chances of a draft would
mount. But he will have to go in and
fight to win these primaries.