Milford chronicle., 1956-04-06
is ADLAI SLIPPING?

is ADLAI SLIPPING?
Many supporters of Adai Stevenson
must now be wryly recalling that famous
line written by Robert Burns, the Bard of
Ayrshire: "The best laid schemes o. mice
and men gang aft a-gley." For, while re-
cent political developments cannot be said
to have destroyed Mr.. Stevenson's chances
for the Democratic candidacy, there is no
doubt that the great advantage he enjoyed
short time ago has rapidly evaporated.
AS of March 18th, most political writer's
will tell you, Mr.. Stevenson led the other
Democratic possibles by a country mile.
Then, on the 18th, came the New Hampshire
primary and the first serious reversal. Mr..
Stevenson, it is true, did not personally cam
paign IN New Hampshire, but strong slate
of delegates, made up of leading local fg-
ures, was pledged to him. 1t was expected
that eehhis slate would make an excellent show
inx even In the face of Senator Kefauver'S
personal campaigning But the pro-Steven-
son vote was small-much smaller than was
anticipated.
The Minnesota primary folowed-and
brought with it the deluge. Here Mr.. Stew
enson had campaigned vigorously. He had
the full backing of the state organization and
the Democratic leaders. The Kefauver cam
paign, by contrast, seemed poorly organized
and even amateurish. 1t was felt that Mr.
Stevenson should win by wide margin
two to one or better The result was a grade
A upset and a stunning victory for the Sen
ator from Tennessee. After Minnesota, Mr..
Stevenson's political star reached its lowest
point SO far Senator Kefauver's old-fash-
ioned method of campaigning, in which he
meets and talks informally with as many in
dividual voters as possible, has produced re-
suits that have confounded political experts.
This has aroused some interesting spec
ulations. The powerful Democratic state
organizations, for the most part, want none
of Senator Kefauver But they are not likely
to want Mr.. Stevenson either unless by con-
vention time he has demonstrated a real up
surge in public following and ballot support.
Thus the stage could be set for the nomina-
tion of comparative dark horse. Governor
Harrimans name is most often mentioned in
this connection. So, to a lesser extent, is that
of Ohio's extremely popular Governor
Lausche.
On the Republican side the interest has
naturally centered on Vice Presidential pos
sibilities-Mr. Eisenhower, of course, will
face no contest for the top seat Mr.. Nixon
seems about as certain choice as anyone
can be in the world of politics. His write-in
vote in New Hampshire was remarkably
large. The really big Nixon boost, however,
came at the White House press conference of
March 14th, when the President said: II
would be happy to be on any political ticket
III WHICH L was a cduuludl0 WlLn IllII lIIS
is regarded as about as strong and unequi-
vocal endorsement as the President is in a
position to give.
Going past the primaries, what of No
vember? All the polls show that the Presi-
dent has wide lead over any of the Demo-
Gratis named. The professional gamblers at
Las Vegas are said to be offering three-to-
one odds on Eisenhower VS.. anyone. How
ever, the Republican leadership is cautioning
against overconfdence. The memory of 1948,
when Governor Dewey looked an absolute
certainty until the votes were counted, re-
mains sharp and bitter.