Evening star., 1956-08-29
yLo, the Poor Former
Seen Stevenson Theme

and over. But the main purpose
is certainly to build self-confi-
dence--to get across the idea
that. if only they will work hard
enough between now and Novem-
ber. the Democrats can win.
The meeting yesterday after
noon, for instance. was attended
by some $50 leaders from WASH
lington, Oregon. Montana and
Utah. 1t was led off by a short
speech from campaign mana
ger James Finnegan who warned
his listeners that since the Re-
publicans controlled "most of
the press and the money" they
would have to really work and
organize to get the Democratic
message across"
/ Mr., Finnegan added: "You
have all heard of Ike as vote
getter. But since he has became
President the Republicans have
lost more State and municipal
elec lions than since the days of
Herbert Hoover"
Since 1852, said Mr.. Finnegan
the Democrats have elected nine
State governors and more than
300 State legislators, against a
loss OF only five seats.
Senator Smathers of Florida
one OF the party travelling with
Gov. Stevenson. spoke Of the
damage that would be done in
the Senate if the Republicans re-
captured control of the various
committee chairmanships. In
particular. he warned against
replacing House Majority Leader
Rayburn by ''Fumbling Joe Mar
tin"
The local boys took over at this
point. Frank F. Church, 80, can
didate for the, Senate in Idaho
running against Republican SEN
Iator Welker, pointed out that the
Republicans had held Senate
control in his State for the last
10 years. The result, he said. had
been that Idaho Jagged behind
the rest of the West, it's per
capita income was the lowest.
and that in recent years some
10000 people: had migrated else
where. The main cause, Mr..
Church thought, was a lack of
abundant and inexpensive elec-
Itric power.
CongresSwoman Pfost of Idaho
remarked that if the Democrats
succeed in carrying the truth
to the farmers" there would be
no question Of the outcome of
the election. Her thoughts were
echoed by Harry Wall, national
committeeman from the same
State, who told the group more
in anger than in sorrow that
Idaho farmers are going down
the drain fast"
Perhaps the biggest hand of
the afternoon lclapping is usual
after each statement at the
strategy council meetingO came
for Senator Morse of Oregon
who is running in a close race
against former Interior Secre-
tary Douglas Mckay.
Senator Morse advised his
Democratic colleagues to carry
the fight against Eisenhower"
He made 1t clear that he meant
"a personal attack on the Presi-
dent. The Democrats, he de-
clared boldly. must not handle
Eisenhower with kid gloves"
they have a strong chance of
winning in November if they take
the record of the Republican ad-
ministration to the people.
And so it went. The talk
ranged to the farmers demand
for 100 per cent parity with the
rest OF the American people" to
the question of how to run a
campaign on very little money
suggestions: Coffee hours and
union meetings..
And through the whole thing
ran the constant refrain: If they
play their cards right--if they
say the right things often enough
between now and November 6,
the Democrats will win. and the
dawn Of a new era of opportu-
nifty" will be at hand.
All this, Of course, is what
politicians are expected to say
to each other at the beginning
OF an election campaign. There
are obviously a good many peo-
pie who still don't entirely be-
lieve 1t. But under this concen-
trated chorus Of selfencourage-
ment, the most deep-dyed pessi-
mist can become the most de-
fa,VYaf,,aI atao,T~~s A.. a.. 49,. -