Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-01
BY CECIL HOLLAND

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Kefauver, history ironically seems
to be repeating itselr-with q pos
sible important difference.
Now, as four years ago, the hand
shaking TenneSsean has become
front-runper for the Democratic
presidential nomination. Notwith-
standing that, the party kingpins
are taking no more to him than
they did when they Scuttled his
hopes at the Chicago convention
in favor of Adlai Stevenson.
After his Minnesota victory over
Mr.. Stevenson. Senator Kefauver
suggested there should be some
reconsideration given on the Demo-
cratic side" What he meant, of
course, was that the party leaders
should look to him as the best hope
of winning the presidency this year
rather than to Mr.. Stevenson, a
one-time loser. or some other candi-
date.
In IL days since Minnesota S
primary. the Democratic leaders.
particularly in the Senate, have
been giving reconsideration" to
the party's political situation. But
their reappraisal is hardly produc-
tive OF the results hoped for by
Senator Kefauver.
Seeing the possibility that Mr..
Stevenson might be knocked out of
the running in the approaching pri-
maries, they have started casting
about for some dark-horSe candi-
date, So far. Senator Stuart Sy-
mington Of Missouri has been the
principle beneficiary of their spec
ulation.
Why So Unpopular?
This. naturally, has raised the
question Of why Senator Kefauver.
for all his vote-getting ability. re-
mains SO unpopular with his fellow
Senators. 1--WE been asked that
dozens Of times" said one Senator,
who claimed he had no explanation
Of the reason.
Other Senators gave different
reasons. The most often heard
criticism was that the Tennessean
was a Toner" and more interested
in advancing his own political for
tunes than he is in doing the work
Of the Senate. Estes is agreeable
enough" said one Senator, "but
he's never one of the boys"
Another said he was never around
when needed in close Senate vote.
IF it's question of staying in the
Senate or going off somewhere to
make speech. Estes will make the
speech" said another. But the same
Senator could not recall any impor-
tant vote Senator Kefauver has
missed. Others said the Senator
fails to carry his full load in the
drudgery Of committee business. Il
just don't trust him." said another
who acknowledged. however, that
he had no instance in mind.
The Kefauver supporters are
aware of all these criticisms and are
inclined to dismiss them as spring.
ing. as much as anything else, from
jealousy Of one who has advanced
far and rapidly. They also acknowl-
edge that their candidate is inde-
pendent to a large extent but they
cite that as virtue rather than a
fault. AS for committee work, they
claim that he he has more than
carried his load in hearings on civil
defense, the Dixon-Yates contro-
verSy and many others.
A PerpIexing Question
Whatever their feelings about
Senator Kefauver personally, the
TenneSsean's sweeping victory in
Minnesota has posed a perplexing
question for the Democratic leaders
in Congress and out.
That question is: II the Senator
continues his winning sweep. par
ticularly in Florida and California.
would they dare brush him aside
again? Or would they be forced to
get behind him as one who has
proved, largely at Mr.. Stevenson's
expense. that he is a vote-getter
who might just possibly defeat
President Eisenhower.
While none OF the Democratic
leaders rushed to the Kefauver
bandwagon after his Minnesota
victory, 1t was regarded as some
what significant that only one
Senator Ellender of Louisiana-
spoke out directly against the Ten
nessean. At the State level one
Governor--Abraham A. Ribicon Of
Connecticut--has made 1t clear he
viii have no part OF a stop Ke-