Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-05-01

school. And we suppose that
Kennedy supporters will claim
it is religious prejudice for us
70 mention this. But it is a fact
and We would think it is pretty
poor tactics"
Blackjack" Charged
The same paper the day be-
fore accused the Kennedy
forces of using "the old 'preju-
dice argument as a verbal
blackjack. They imply that you
are prejudiced If you are not
beating the drum for Kennedy.
We fail to see any way in
which they could do their man
more harm :"
Another incident concerned
the local radio station, WWNR,
owned by Senator Byrd's
friend. Joe Rahall. The station
has a program, Anything
Goes" on which listeners are
invited to air their comments
on matters of public interest.
On April 81 and %, the mat
ter of Senator Kennedy's re-
|ligion dominated the program
The comments critical OF
Catholicism were so strongly
phrased that several listeners
phoned in to demonstrate with
those who had made them. On
April %, Mrs. Kennedy pro-
tested the matter to Mr.. Rahall
He has instructed the station
staff to exercise stricter con-
troll over the remarks being
broadcast.
The Raleigh Register, the
Democratic paper, has sought
to minimize religious contro-
verSy. 1t accused Senator Byrd
of trying ito stir religious
hatred against" Senator Ken
nedy and said "denominational
religion has become an issue
far beyond its Importance in
the presidential race"
Sees Less Bias
One observer said: THE bias
is not as bad as it would have
been 10 years ago"
Another said: IF it was any
office but President. the religion
thing wouldn't dominate. Even
for President, the prejudice is
building up some sympathy for
Kennedy"
Some observers think the ag-
gressive Kennedy campaign has
been a mistake. II think" says
one, the Catholics hurt them
selves by all flocking to Ken
nedy. 1t creates a lot of ami
mostly"
The question of a quiet ver-
Sus a hard-shell campaign has
divided the local Kennedy
camp itself, but the decision
has been to push him as hard
as possible.
NonethelesS, the universal
judgment-of Kennedy man
ayers, of Humphrey managers
and Of neutrals--is that Senator
Humphrey will carry the county,
The predictions range from a
very close" race to a 3-to-2
margin. But no one predicts
a Kennedy win.
Kennedy Strength
In the face of that unan-
imouS verdict it is necessary
to report that polling by The
Star in mining camps. on coun-
try roads and in various parts
Of Beckley gave Senator Ken
nedy a lead among those Dem
ocratic voters who had made
up their minds or had a pref
erence.
Some 112 persons were polled.
They gave Senator Kennedy
rs sure votes and l6 probable
votes. They gave Senator
Humphrey 10 sure votes and 8
probable votes. There were 81
undecided Democrats, 81 Re-
publicans, one for Adlai Ste
venson, one for Lyndon John
son, one Democrat for Vice
President Nixon and one Dem
ocrat for Gov. Rockefeller.
Senator Kennedy's lead was
less than 2-to-1 among men,
more than 4-to-l among wom-
en-, with one-third of both sexes
OF the Is sure and probable
Humphrey voters, six said they
preferred him chiefly because
Of his religion and two said
specifically that was not a fac
tor in their decision. OF the
AZ sure and probable Kennedy
votes, five volunteered that
they were for him despite
others criticism Of his religion