Evening star., 1956-08-18


say. "I'll take it,. he looked
like a man who couldn't quite
believe it himself: that he had
beaten the bosses and had gotten
himself at last a commanding
spot in the national political
arena.
For the 53-year-old senior
Tennessee Senator, the vice
presidential nomination was the
end of a long, hard road he had
plowed unproductively in ma
tional politics for five years. He
had criss-crossed the country,
tramped more streets and shaken
more hands than any other can
didate-and had been victimized
more by the bosses than anyone
else.
The Last Bitter Drop
That he finally won the con-
ISOLATION prize after dropping out
of the main drag was the last
bitter drop in the Democratic
week of politicking that con-
founded the old-line party bosses
and saw the power and prestige
of Democratic leadership swing
into younger and fresher hands.
1t was crowning bit of dis
comfort to former President Har-
ry S. Truman, who had gotten
a cutting around at the conven-
ton when his man. Gov. Averell
Hartman, was turned down un-
tremendously for Adlai E.
Stevenson. All that Mr.. Truman
could do was smile as the man
he belittlingly called "Cowfever''
overcame the bosses to win the
No. 2 spot on the ticket.
Viewed From 3 Angles
The story of Estes Kefauver
and his fight for recognition"
by the Democratic Party can be
seen more clearly by looking at
him from three angles:
The folksy campaigner, who
continuously confounds his
enemies with his vote-getting
strength, the critic of men in
both parties, and the determined,
persistent but mild man who
keeps to himself.
Much of the Senator's success
in the vote-getting field appears
to be based on his golden grip.
He's often called the best hand
shaker in politics today. He chats
with the voter in downsto-earth
terms and greets all comers with
a smile.
He pulls them in with an un-
equaled talent for making the
voter feel that my fight is your
fight. and with me your vote will
count"
The fight he frequently refers
to is a favorite of the little
man." Estes Kefauver versus the
big political machines.
of Pioneer Stock
One such encounter provided
the raw-boned Senator with his
first claim to fame and his
famous coonskin cap, the symbol
he used in 1852 and abandoned
during this campaign on the ad-
vice of F. Joseph Donohue, for
mer District Commissioner and
his Sc campaign manager. Its
a bit too undignifled," Mr.. Dono-
hue said.
The folksy trademark Of "the
peoples candidate" grew out Of
a senatorial campaign of eight
years ago and not from the fact
that The Democrats vice presi-
dental candidate is Of pioneer
stock, the son of Robert Cook
and Phedonia Kefauver of Madi-
Sonville.
Edward H. Crump, boss of the
Crump machine. scoffed at Can
didate Kefauver in 1948 as a pet
raccoon." That may be true, the
young campaigner said. "but I'm
not Mr.. Crump's raccoon." He
thereupon adopted the cap as a
campaign symbol and beat the
Crump candidate for a Senate
seat by more than 10000 votes
10 Years in House
He has waged a battle against
machines most of his political
life. 1t helped keep him in the
House for 10 years prior to hi;
moving to the Senate in 1948. II
worked with surprising success
in subsequent primary campaigns
from coast to coast.
Mr.. Kefauver is an outspoken
man who doesn't scare easily.
He is looked upon by some
politicians as perfect running
mate for Mr.. Stevenson. They
explain it this way:
The Senator was the first
critic Of the Eisenhower admin
istration. He was scoring the
"inept" Republican foreign pol
icy, the "desertion by Ike" oi
the farmer and the big bushes.
cabinet" when Democrats who
out-ranked him were urging
party members to take it easy
on the General"
He's therefore the ideal man
his supporters say, to take Ike
on"
He's been a determined foe Of