Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-08-03
GOVERNORS
GOVERNORS ..u l..s#
Democratic Executives Reluctant
To Express Their Preferences
Continued From First Page

Neither had he heard. he
said, of a prediction by Senator
Javits, Republican Of New York,
that accelerating events would
force such a decision earlier
than expected.
Cites Lot Of Letters ,
Yes, Gov. Rockefeller con-
tinued, he had a lot of letters
urging him to run. No. he
hadn't counted them, but they
probably ran into the hundreds.
What was his reaction to these
and newspaper reports Of his
possible candidacy?
I'm interested, like every
body else is" he said with an
other wide grin.
He has no plans, he repeated,
for speaking outside of New
York State in what would be
regarded as an effort to drum
up convention support.
He fatty rejected suggestions
he might run for the vice presi-
dency on a ticket headed by
Mr.. Nixon. He was kind in his
comments, however, about his
potential rival.
Mr.. Nixon, he said. seems
to be a leading candidate for
the prize. He thought Mr..
Nixon had handled himself
with great skill under varied
and difficult circumstances" in
his tour of Russia and his en-
counters with Premier Khru-
shchev.
Capehart for Rockefeller
In Washington, meanwhile,
Senator Capehart, Republican
of Indiana, told a TV audience
(CBS-Face the Nation) yes
terday he would like to See Gov.
Rockefeller heading the @. o. P.
ticket next year with Mr.. Nixon
running again for Vice Presi-
dent.
Senator Capehart said: II
think Rockefeller would be a
better vote getter than Nixon.
=. o.. If the Republicans want to
win l think they should run
Rockefeller Mr.. Nixon, he
said, lis young enough to serve
as Vice President for another
eight years."
G. o. P. House Leader Hal
leck, on another TV program
(NBC-Meet the Press, said
he thought Mr.. Nixon would
get the nomination if the con-
vention were being held today.
The Democratic picture was
clouded by the reluctance of
most of that party's Governors
to speak out in favor of any
particular candidate. /
Although Connecticut Demo-
cratic Gov. Abraham A. Ribi-
coff insisted that Senator
Kennedy, Democrat, MaSsa-
chusetts, is the leading candi-
date for his party's nominal
ton. some of his colleagues
were not sure.
Governors Called Key
Gov. Ribicoff said he thinks
the Democratic governors will |
be the deciding factor in de-
termining the nominee. But
he said Senator Kennedy l.
isn't worried about getting too
far out in front too fast. He
found. he said, no overwhelm-
ing sentiment anywhere for his
mans potential Democratic
rivals-Senators Symingtqn of
Missouri, Johnson of Texas
and Humphrey of Minnesota.
Gov. Leroy Collins of Florida
said his State probably will
get behind its Senator Smath-
ers as a favorite son. But he
predicted compromises will be
reached by which all major
candidates will be represented
on the States delegation, and
no one person, including Sena-
tor Smathers, will be able to
control it.
Gov. Robert B. Meyner of
New Jersey, a prospective
favorite son with obvious ma
tional ambitions, told a news
conference he has no inten-
tons now of becoming a can
didate. But he said that IF
the stream indicated I might
swim in a certain direction,
might"
Gov. Ribicof crossed off
Adlai E. Stevenson, twice the
Democratic nominee for Presi-
dent, as 1860 contender. He
said that while he believes there
is "a great sentimental and
emotional feeling among Demo-
Gratis for Stevenson, find
very few men who will have an
important voice in the con-
vention who feel he will be the
nominee"
Brown Counted Out
Gov. Ribicoff also discounted
the possibility that Gov. Ed
mund G. (Pat Brown of
California will become a seri-
Gus candidate for the top nom
nation. Gov. Brown has said
he has no interest in second
place on the ticket but wants
to be CALIFORNIA; favorite son.
Gov. Rockefeller came to the
conference armed with a letter
from President Eisenhower
complimenting his initiative in
sponsoring a voluntary pro-
gram by which civilians could
protect themselves from atomic
fallout in any nuclear attack.
Mr.. Eisenhower said that
Americans have been free from
attack so long they have be-
come complacent about de-
Tending themselves.
POLL PICKS NIXON