Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-10-26

presidential candidate is satlSfa
in this State. They don't want
desegregation-e SIP ecially in
their schools. They intend to
fight 1t as best they can.
There has been no indignation
In the schools. and when I asked
the situation, a leading Demo
crat replied: And there won't
be any for a long time to come. >
Returns to Democratic Party
Since the Democrats feel there
is no choice. on this issue, be-
tween Mr.. Eisenhower and Mr.
Stevenson, some of them who
supported the President in 1852
are now saying they are going
back to vote Democratic. They
contend they can best make
their fight against desegregation
IN the Democratic Party.
If there are enough 1852 pro-
Eisenhower Democrats following
this course, they should make q
Stevenson victory in Florida a
certainty.
No one seems to be able to
answer that question. Many OF
the voters have remained close
mouthed. Democratic leaders
with whom l have talked frankly
admit they think the presiden-
tial race is close-so close that
they are only figuring on carry
ing the State for Mr.. Stevenson
with a lead of 10000 to $4,000
This is mighty slim in an cleo
ton when upwards of a million
votes probably will be cast. In
the 1852 election the total
Florida presidential vote was
988,986. and Mr.. Eisenhower'S
margin of victory was 99,086.
Not Worried Over Andrews
Neither side in the race is
worrying about T. Coleman An
drews and his States Rights and
Constitution Party. Due to the
strong feeling in the State-di-
rected against both major parties
and their candidates for Presi-
dent on the civil rights issue
the Andrews ticket might have
been expected to catch on here
1t hasn't.
Efforts made by Andrews sup
porterS to get sufficient number
OF signatures to place Mr.. An
draws name on the ballot were
unsuccessful. The efforts came
late They failed in more thar
half the 81 counties of the State
The ballots for the election now
are being printed, and it is i'm
possible to get Mr.. Andrews
name on them.
Under the election : laws OF
Florida, write-in vote for Mr.
Andrews is possible, and a
campaign for write-ins may be
undertaken. The names of presi.
dental and vice presidential
candidates only appear on the
ballot-not the names of the
presidential electors. So it will
be comparatively easy for Mr.
Andrews followers to write his
name on their ballots.
1t is not expected that the
number of such write-in votes
will be material. but the number
will be watched with interest on
election day. Andrews could take
votes from either Mr.. Stevenson's
followers or those of Mr.. Eisen-
hover.
Negroes Look Democratic
As for the Negro voters, the
general belief is that they will
for the most part stay in the
Democratic Party where they
have been for a number of years
since the days of Franklin D
Roosevelt. There will be some
Republican gains among them.
But it is expected the bulk will
vote for Mr.. Stevenson.
The number of registered
Negro voters in the State is
approximately $4,000. Not all
OF them vote. If there was a
decided swing among them to
Mr.. Eisenhower, it could be OF
material effect on the election
outcome.
The Democrats have no really
strong. centralized State organ
ization in Florida. Each prom
inent Democratic leader OF
offlce-holder has his own per-
sonal organization and following
But this year, most of these
party leaders have thrown in
with Mr.. Stevenson. including
both Senators. the Governor and
all seven Of the Democratic Con-
greSSmen.
The Stevenson campaign d.
rectors, therefore, have been
greatly encouraged.
The Republicans. for Their