Evening star., 1955-03-05
The Political Mill
Democrats Problem:
Whut Convention Date?
Many in Purty Cont Agree
Thut Short Compoien Is Best
The Political Mil
By Gould Lincoln

iHut SnoII SufHPui9h iS oeSt
By Gould Lincoln
The Democrats have q problem on
their hands. It seems innocent enough.
but it might turn out important. The
problem: Whether to hold their 1856 ma.
tional convention. for the nomination
of a presidential candidate. July % or
August 13 next year. They have options
on both dates-in Chicago. Much
depends. so far as the selection Is con-,
cerned. on whether the party leader
ship believes shorter presidential cam
paign is advisable or not.
Democratic National Chairman Paul
M. Butler certainly started out this,
winter in favor of the shorter campaign:
Indeed. he picked August q as the date
for opening the Democratic National
Convention Later. he moved this back
to August 13, and then picked July %.
His reaSon-a number of the States
have laws requiring the filing Of the.
candidates names not later than
August 13.
The Republicans. who claim they
originated the later convention date
and shorter campaign idea, recently
decided to hold their 1856 convention
in San Francisco August 20. They are
going on the assumption they can per-
suade the States of Connecticut, Iowa,
Massachusetts,. Ohio and South Dakota
to amend their laws so that the presi-
dental and vice presidential candidates
may ne filed. for ballot purposes, later
than that date.
Preferred September.
The Republicans had even preferred
a date in September for naming their
candidates. but had to abandon that
idea because it would have run counter
to too many State laws-which would
have had to be amended It is still
possible, though apparently not prob
able. that the G. o. p will be forced to
advance their convention date next
year, by failure of one or more States to
postpone their filing dates.
The Republicans held their 1852 ma.
tional convention beginning July Z. The
Democrats opened up their national
convention two weeks later, July 81. The
campaign got under way almost imme-
diately for both parties. Both had a
tough time keeping the people inter-
ested, with all of August, September
and October intervening between the
nominations and election day. Party
leaders on both sides have complained
That they were unable to keep people
thinking about the issues and the can
dldates; that their campaigns rose high,
then sank to lower levels. Hence the
demand for shorter campaign. I'm
doubtedly, the Republicans feel that,
with President Eisenhower as a candi-
date. they will have plenty of time for
campaign activities even should the
nomination be made in September.
While many Democrats are intent on
renominating Adlai Stevenson next
year. it is not yet sure he will get the
nomination. There are plenty of other
potential andidateS-among them
senator ketauver of Tennessee. who
was runner-up to Mr.. Stevenson in.
1852; Gov. Hartman of New York,
Gov. Williams of Michigan-who has
already said he would like a nominal
tlon-Gov. LauSche of Ohio, Gov.
Leader of Pennsylvania, and Senator
Symington of Missouri. None of them
is as widely known to the voters
as Mr.. Stevenson, who campaigned
the country in 1852. Obviously. it
might be an advantage to the Demo-
Gratis to make their presidential nomi-
nation in July if their selection should
be someone besides Mr.. Stevenson.
Some Democrats Disagree.
Further. there are Democrats who
insist that a brief campaign would
favor the Republican nominee, partic-
ularly should he be Mr.. Eisenhower.
They figure they would need more time
to reach the voters with a compara-
lively unknown candidate. They fear
they might not have as much money as
the Republicans to throw into an in
tensive, brief campaign, with great use
OF the costly television technique.
The Democratic leadership is tenn
porarlly quiet about this issue The
party leaders are all due to gather in
Washington for the big Embarrassing
dinner which is being given in honor Of
Speaker Sam Rayburn on April l6. 1t
IS possible that the decision on conven-
ton date will be made then Chairman
Butler already has authority to act
but he may wish to have the views of
other leaders-including those of the
potential presidential candidates.
The Republicans seemingly have
burned their bridges behind them. They
are going to San Francisco for a late
convention. If something should in
terfere with the expected denomination
OF Mr. Eisenhower-a declination on his
part for example-they might find
themselves in bad way. with a new
man to publicize. On the other hand,
they probably will find themselves in a
bad way, anyway. If he does not run.