Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-10-14

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has been bolstered by favorable
reports from State and local
party leaders and by the size and
attitude of the crowds which
have turned out to hear him
preach the Eisenhower gospel in
the seven States he has visited.
The turnouts have been large
and the audiences have reacted
warmly from Texas to California
and back across country to
Michigan and Minnesota.
Democrats Seen on Wane
On top Of that the Vice Presi-
dent is now convinced the Ste
venson-Kefauver popularity is
on the wane. This popularity a
short time ago had the Repub-
licans running scared" and
caused President Eisenhower to
enlarge his campaign efforts.
Mr.. Nixon says the Democl ats
peaked too SOON" He explains
their drive really reached a peak
during their convention or
shortly thereafter when they
threw the kitchen sink at us and
even part of the sewer" They
have been unable to sustain the
drive and are on the downgrade
now, in his opinion.
In the early anxious days after
the conventions Mr.. Nixon said
Republican leaders received
frantic kilograms from partisans
telling them to get going or
they would lose in this and
that State. He now confeSses
the Republicans were slow in
starting. but he adds the G. o. P.
drive all over the country is
really rolling now and he feels
all right about it although there
still is hard work to be done.
The Vice President had en-
couraging words poured into his
ears on Republican chances in
some key Senate contests. This
was true particularly of the
prospects Of former Gov. Dan
Thornton IN Colorado, VINO
many regard as good as elected.
And to a lesser extent it was
true of Senator Kuchel in Cali
fornia.
More Help for Kuchel
A major reason Mr.. Nixon is
making three campaign trips to
his native State is to help Sem
ator Kuchel. During the early
part of this trip, and before, he
said repeatedly the Senator was
in trouble. Now, apparently bet
ter satisfied after visiting Cali
fornia, he says little.
There is reason to believe.
however. that he doesn't feel
nearly SO confident about Repub-
lican chances of retaining some
of the House seats they now
hold. But he thinks these situa-
tons can be changed materially
by hard work in the next crucial
three weeks.
Despite Mr.. Nixon's appar-l
emily encouraging report to. the
President that Texas by no
means should be written off as
lost. most observers travelling
with him got the impression
that Adlai Stevenson has a def
mite edge in the Lone Star State.
For one thing, the Democrats
for Eisenhower, although still
numerous, have not been nearly
so active or well organized as
they were in 1852, when the
President carried Texas by 1885,
900 votes. One leading Repub-
lican was not very optimistic.
Mr. Nixon admits that in order
to win the States "a electoral
votes they must get half the
Democratic and all the Repub-
lican votes. The Democrats
have closed ranks to some ex-
tent.
California Gains Seen
In California. Mr.. Nixon got
the word the Republican national
ticket was running ahead, pull
ing away. in fact, while the Dem
,ocratic drive seemed to be losing
steam. But w. j. Wilkin of San
Francisco, Eisenhower Nixon
manager for Northern California.
told reporter this: Mr.. Eisen-
hover and Mr.. Nixon will carry
the State safely and so will Sem
ator Kuchel. However, he added.
the Republicans were likely to
lose several House seats and pos
sibly control of the State Legis-
lature. Mr.. Wilkin gave as rea-
sons for this rather strange sit
uation the weakness of some
Republican House candidates he
did not namer and the tendency
of Californians to vote for indi-
viduals rather than for parties.
In Nevada 1t was indicated
Democratic Senator Alan Bible
will be reelected. while probably
the Eisenhower Nixon team
will win.
Colorado was a very bright
spot for Mr. Nixon and the Re-
publicans A Denver Post poll
showed the national ticket and
Gov. Thornton we'll out in front.
and Mr. Nixon talked to large
and enthusiastic audiences there.
Some $4,000 to 10000 farmers
who yesterday heard Mr.. Nixon
champion the Eisenhower farm
program at Columbus in
drought ridden Eastern Me-
braska didn't give the Vice Pres
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