Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-05


PRESIDENT EISENHOWER phiIosoI
or second ballot. Mr.. Stevenson al
ready has 40412 Of the $751; con-
vention votes necessary for the
nomination.
New York Gov. Averell Harri-
man, who also wants to be Presi-
dent, was not sas ready as Mr..
Kefauver to give up the golden
fleece. His supporters, with some
reason, noted that many of the
Kefauver delegates would prefer
Mr.. Hartman over Mr.. Stevenson.
Mr.. Hartman, on the first ballot,
at least, appeared in likely posi-
ton to capture some of the Mid
west delegates for whose support
Senator Kefauver had campaigned
SO tirelesSly last spring. Fifty-four
delegates in Minnesota and Wis
consin, for instance, were reported
leaning to the New York Governor.
Mr.. Stevenson, however, hopes to
pick UP enough support from the
Kefauver remnants and favorite-
son delegations to assure him the
nomination. Some commentators
thought he looked more and more
like a Shoo-in.
Bid for Second Place?
Senator KefauVer'S withdrawal
from the main event naturally set
off speculation about a Stevenson
Kefauver ticket. Though the Sena-
tor said he would wait to cross the
vice presidency bridge until I'VE
come to it." it was known that he
was busy in the last few hours of
the 84th Congress trying to line up
Southern support for his second
place candidacy. He found that the
Southerners on Capitol Hill had
little more sympathy for his new
and marked-down ambitions than
they had for his presidential aspir-
ationS.
Late this week, a prospective
deal was reported in the works
which would trade a moderate"
civil rights plank in the Democratic
platform in return for Southern
support of the Tennessee Senator
on the bottom half of the ticket.
The overtures we're said to be
coming from Kefauver supporters
standing lonely in the last ditch.
There was some doubt, however, that
the Southerners would buy the idea.
But the decision is not likely to
be up to the Southerners. Top
party officials are aware that the
South has no place to go-not to
the Republicans. and certainly not
to Mr.. Hartman.
To outsiders it appeared that
Senator Kefauver might we'll end
up on the ticket, after all. He is
especially popular in the farm belt
States of the Midwest, where he
out-promised Mr.. Stevenson in the
primaries, and in the Far West.
Other Aspironts
There are. of course. other, and
formidable aspirants for the Demo-
cratic vice presidential nomination.
There is Senator Hubert Hum
phrey of Minnesota, a dynamic
speaker with vote appeal who, be-
cause of his championing of high
and rigid farm supports, is widely
admired in agricultural States,
though he is less liked in the South
for his civil rights stand.
Senator John Kennedy of Massa-
chusetts, another young man who
might be the Democrats answer to
Mr.. Nixon, has been mentioned as
a possible vice presidential candi-
date. Senator Kennedy has the adj
vantage of being able to bring to
the campaign some ready-made
publicity: his book, "Profiles in
Courage" has been on the best
seller lists for many weeks and the
author is not unknown to television
audiences.
His outstanding disadvantage
would seem to be his voting record
on farm legislation. In the 84th
Congress marathon struggle to
write farm law. Senator Kennedy
went down the line with the Re-
publican majority on almost every
vote.
Others mentioned in the wide
open Democratic race for second
place on the ticket also underscore
this years emphasis on youth and
vigor. They include 44-year- old
Senator Henry M. Jackson of
Washington; Tennessees articulate
Senator Albert Gore. 48. and the
conventions colorful keynoter
Frank Clement. Tennessee Cover
nor, who at SO is the Nation S
youngest Governor.
Thus the health issue, centering
on the ailing Mr.. Eisenhower, has
focused new interest on the selec-
ton Of vice presidential candidates
in both parties. Because of this. and
because OF the fact that President
Eisenhower has given new impor-
lance to the ong-neglected Office
there probably is less chance in
1856 than ever before that the man
who Will preside over the next Sen
ate Will be a "Throttlebottom
owing his place on the ticket TO his
geography more than 70 his suita-
oility for the presidency.