Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-09-23

executive, who is one of three
out that in one North Carolina
county the Negro population is
three-tenths of one per cent,
while in another it is 81 per
cent.
Problem Varies
Obviously, the race problem
varies among our one hundred
counties as it can and does vary
among the several States repre-
sented in this conference, from
Delaware to Oklahoma"
Gov. Hodges continued. This
variation in degree of the race
problem and in approaches to-
ward a solution does not mean
that our people do not have
the same basic personal convic-
tons and attitudes.
las a matter of fact. / be-
lieve If the truth were really
known, the basic attitudes and
feelings Of the average person
in those states outside the
South, with respect to racial re-
lations, is not a great deal diff
ferent from that of the south
ern citizen. Any difference is
largely explained by the diff
ference in the degree of prob
lens facing different sections
of our nation"
Gov. McKeldin made no men,
ton Of the race problem in
discussing the South chances
Of ever electing a President. But
he made this general observa-
ton:
Lingering Ghosts"
"A Southerner can be elected
President when the South ex-
orcizes from its house the lin
gering ghosts of an era that
is gone, ceases the self-torture
OF q century, and accepts a
full voting membership in the
two-party system Of the sister
hood Of States"
Gov. McKeIdin suggested
that the election of a few more
Republican Governors as the
terms Of the present excellent
Governors" of the South
expire. the Nation would be
aroused and serious consider
alton would be given to the
proper presidential ambitions
OF outstanding Southern states
men,"
Gov. McKeldin assured his
colleagues that If in some parts
OF his speech is note of partisan
politics might have seemed in
evidence. lit was purely COIN
cidential."
Gov. Hodges told a press
conference yesterday that he
was not optimistic over the
election Of a Southerner as
President in 1860 because the
country still has a lot to learn
about the South. but he added.
i think it is coming"
Reluctant on Prospects
The Democratic Governors,
in interviews. were reluctant TO
discuss potential standard bear
ers for their party so far in
advance Of 1860.
Gov. Gary. Democrat OF
Oklahoma. for example, de-
clined to discuss the prospects
Of Senator johnson, Democrat
OF Texas. Senator Kennedy.
Democrat of Massachusetts, or
other possibilities. He said that
Senator Kennedy had been in
vited to address a Democratic
dinner in Oklahoma in Novem-
Der. He said the Massachusetts
Senator had many friends in
Oklahoma, but he did not know
how the State would go for him
as a potential nominee.
Before turning to the poll
tical question of a Southerner's
chances to reach the White
House. the conference was
slated to discuss the more eff
fective use Of State education
facilities this morning.
Those who planned the con-
ference expect this discussion
to deal mainly with such ques-
tons as staggered hours Il
overcome classroom shortage
1t was not intended to touch
on the indignation problem. but
there was no certainty it woulc
not be mentioned.
On his arrival yesterday
morning Gov. McKeldin wa!
asked If he thought the schoo
indignation issue would come
up, and replied. Il imagine
everything will come up But
he added that he had no plan.
for injecting it into the formal
sessions Of the conference