Evening star., 1960-09-29
Rhode Island Democrats
Choose PeII in Upset

AnOOS6 ell
PROVIDENCE. r, l., Sept. 29
(AP) claiborne de Borda Pell
of Newport and Washington
bowed into Rhode island poll
tics with a bang last night,
trouncing two seasoned cam
paigners to win the Democratic
nomination for the Senate.
In his first bid for elective
office, the 41-year old soeialite-
businessman was nominated
to succeed Senator Theodore
Francis Green, 92-year-old dean
OF the Senate. Senator Green
is not seeking reelection.
Mr.. Pell upset two former
governors driving for political
comebacks. Mr.. Pell polled
83,184 votes to 45,196 for four
time Gov. Dennis j. Roberts.
who had the backing of the
Democratic State Committee. j.
Howard McGrath, who served
as Governor, Senator, United
States Attorney General and
Democratic national chairman,
was far behind. Mr.. McGrath
got only 1895 votes, despite a
television-radio address by for
mer President Truman in his
behalf.
1t. Gov. John A. Notte, jr.,
defeated former 1t. Gov. Ar
mand H. Cote for the guber-
material nomination.
st. Germain Wins
In the 1st congressional dis
trict, which includes Eastern
Rhode Island communities,
State Representative Fernand
j. st. Germain easily out-dis-
tanced four other candidates.
He won nomination to sue
ceed Representative Aime ].
Forand, sponsor of the Demo-
cratic plan for medical care
for the aged, who did not seek
reelection.
Representative John E. Fe=
garty was unopposed for Demo-
cratic denomination in the I'd
district.
A record $4,000 Democrats
turned out for the rainy-day
balloting. The vote was more
than 10000 over the previous
high of two years ago.
Mr.. Pell, who keyed his cam
paign to the youth and new
ideas theme of Senator Ken
nedy. Democratic presidential
nominee. has held minor posts
in the foreign service. His
father was a diplomat under
President Franklin D. Roose-
welt. and F. D. R., jr., took the
stump for Mr.. Pell last week.
Tnexperience" Charged
Mr.. Roberts and Mr.. Nc
Grath, once political associates,
saved their heavy campaign
artillery for each other. They
cast periodic barbs at Mr.. Pell,
saying he lacked experience
and at times. took a patroniz-
ing attitude toward the new
conner.
Said Mr.. McGrath II entered
this primary because I felt the
Democratic Party in Rhode Is
land needed revitalizing. I
found that Mr.. PelI is a better
revitalizer than I am"
Mr.. Roberts conceded the
election with about 200 of the
States 357 voting districts re-
ported. He and Mr.. McGrath
both pledged to support the
ticket.
Mr.. Roberts won State Dem
ocratic Endorsement for the
Senate despite his loss of the
governorship to Republican
Christopher Del Sesto two years
ago. Gov. Del Sesto, first G..
o. P. chief executive in nearly
20 years, is seeking reelection.
Mr.. Pell, an Episcopalian,
won the primary over two
Catholic candidates in State
which has an estimated 58.3
per cent of its population be-
longing to the Catholic religion.
According to a compilation by
Congressional Quarterly, Rhode
Island is one of two States with
a Catholic majority. The other
is Massachusetts, which is SIT
per cent Catholic.
Raoul Archambault. jr., for
mer assistant director of the
United States budget, is the
Republican candidate for the
Senate and Theophile Martin
is G. o. P. nominee for the 1st
district congressional seat.
The Republicans held their
primary September 19. but had
no Statewide contests.
Formerly With U. N.
Mr.. Pell was a special assist
ant at the United Nations Con-
ference in San Francisco in
1945, before joining the For
eign Service. He is now vice
president of the international
Rescue Committee.
Long an active Democrat, he
is a wealthy businessman and
socialite in fashionable New
port. In Washington he main
tains a home at 1921 Thirty
third street, NV.
A tall, slim man with black
wavy hair. Mr.. Pell is the heir
of a political family. His father
Herbert Pell, was a Congress-
man and served as a diplomat
under President Franklin D
Roosevelt.
Mr.. Pell's forebears also in
clude five earlier Congressmen
and Rhode Island lieutenant