Evening star., 1956-08-17


In the drivers seat again last n
This time it was no coy /,
boldly announced his all-or-r
Joined in battle with preferential
primary foes. Whereas in 1852
Mr.. Stevenson let the nomina-
tion come to him, the second try
saw him going after it vigor-
ously.
1t was a new Stevenson who
wooed the voters, not with quips
and suave manners. but with
some of the handshaking direct
ness which won for him the
Illinois governorship in 1948 by
the greatest majority ever.
Better Closeup
The rough and tumble of the
primaries gave more citizens a
chance to appraise the 5-foot-l0
inch. blue-eyed campaigner close
UP. At first came a staggering
setback as Estes Kefauver
trounced him in Minnesota.
But in other States, the tide
began to turn, and Mr.. Steven
son gained political savvy. as
well as convention delegates.
He found it possible to speak
from rough notes instead of
glossy text, and he found that
professional political managers
were better at winning over
State delegations than his old
amateur friends.
So carefully did he mend his
fences, that he met the head-on
challenge of former President
Truman's opposition with a VIC
tory that made his friends smile
and say. Nov he's a politician" p"
Almost an unknown when his
party picked him, Mr.. Stevenson
received more votes than any
presidential candidate in history
save his victorious rival and
Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1886.
Gradually. the character. pol
icies and biography of the Demo-
cratic standard bearer have
emerged to give the electorate a
better understanding Of what he
stands for.
Moderate Adhesive
Mr.. Stevenson's position of
moderation seemed the right ad-
hesive to bind together the
many interests of the party. On
the big issue of agriculture he
came out for equality with other
parts of economy. Support by
Government loans at 80 per cent
Of parity for basic commodities.
On foreign policy. he called for
less emphasis on the Importance
of military security pacts and
more positive concern about eco
nomic development, while MAIN
tanning strong defenses.
On civil rights, he urged COM
pliance with the Supreme Courts
desegregation decree. while re-
minding that the high court, in
stead of fixing a time limit, had
established the test of good
faith as the measurement Of
progress in the cases before the
District courts"
Not unmindful Of labor's duty
TO conform to standards Of fair
conduct. he called for scrapping
the Taft-Hartley law to provide
for more effective mediation be-
tween management and unions.
Family Of Politicians
At the outset of his second
campaign, more Americans have
become aware Of a political
heritage Mr.. Stevenson can
trade on.
A f1fth-eeneration Illinoisan,
though born in Los Angeles
February 5. 1900, Mr.. Stevenson
is a grandson OF Jesse Fell, who
proposed Lincoln for the presi-
dency, and Of Adlai Stevenson.
Vice President under Cleveland.
His father managed vast mine
and farm properties. and was
Secretary OF State in Illinois.
Elective Office did not tempt
the present Mr.. Stevenson until
he vaulted into the Illinois gov
ernorship. But he had long. USE
ful and educational service in
the United States Government
before that.
Completing his formal educa-
ton at Princeton and North
western University. he practiced
law six years in Chicago before
helping to organize the Agricul-
tural Adjustment Administration
In Washington in l933-34.
Again leaving his law business
in i94l, Mr.. Stevenson returned
70 Washington to serve as special
assistant TO Secretary Of the
Navy Prank Knox.
Mr. Steyenson's introduction
70 foreign affairs saw him head
ins . Foreisn Economic Admins
uation mission to Italy in i945