Evening star., 1960-07-07
1000 Stevenson Supporters Hear
Mrs. Roosevelt at Big Rally Here
By ROBERT X. WALSH
Star Stan Writer

The essential rightness" of
Adlai Stevenson to lead the
country through world crisis
was the keynote that echoed
today from a huge rally here
urging his nomination for
President.
More than 1000 Stevenson
supporters who jammed the
Sheraton-Park Hotel ballroom
last night heard Mrs. Eleanor
Roosevelt sound that call
especially to delegates soon to
gather for the Democratic Ma
tional Convention.
Considerable cash as well as
cheers also crossed the conti-
nent from Washington to Los
Angeles as a result of the meet
ing. Draft Stevenson petitions
signed by 10000 people in the
District and nearby Maryland
and Virginia also were on their
way today to the National Citi-
zens' Committee for Stevenson
headquarters in Los Angeles.
Describing themselves as
strictly amateurs in politics.
sponsors of the rally said they
were overwhelmed" by the at
tendance. They regarded it as
tremendous" for an indoor
meeting of this kind arranged
on comparatively short notice.
Center Of Stage
Mrs. Roosevelt received an
enthusiastic reception and held
the center of the stage both as
main speaker and at an earlier
news conference.
But the cheering crowd made
clear that it came mainly in
behalf Of the man who wasn't
present last night, Adlai
Stevenson. 1t also made clear
that it wanted to be heard in
asking convention delegates to
draft Mr.. Stevenson for the
presidential nomination next
week.
If people believe in the es-
sential rightness of this man {
for the country at this mo- ,
ment they have to come out I
and speak for him." Mrs.
Roosevelt declared" I hope
we can bring enough thought S
to bear on the delegates to '
select the very best possible :
man and that man is Adlai :
Stevenson" :
The 76-year-old widow of
former President Franklin D. Y
Roosevelt had kind words for t
other Democrats seeking the s
presidential nomination but $
she insisted that none could
measure up to Mr.. Stevenson "
in ability, wide experience and +
the essential quality that could q
best demonstrate the character +
and high purpose of the United
States to the rest of the world. v
She said she would like to r
place Mr.. Stevenson's name in =
nomination but cannot do so . .
because she is not a conven- r
ton delegate.
Raps '52, Sc Choice Q
Il have a feeling that this A
country lost in the last two Ii
elections" she said. "It elected c
a good man but he was y
obliged to listen too much to VI
those about him and he was P
trained in the tradition of a n
general staff" u
At the news conference Mrs. :, y
Roosevelt took comparatively
mild issue with former Presi-
dent Truman's failure to in
clude Mr.. Stevenson among
Democrats he believed should
be considered for the presi-
dental nomination.
THAT was interesting and
characteristic because when
Mr.. Truman doesn't like some
one he doesn't like him"
Mrs. Roosevelt nevertheless
caused something of a mystery
herself by indicating that she
might not stay long at the con-
vention next week. She told
reporters that she did not know
whether she would accept an
invitation to speak at the con-
vention and added that "if l
find at any point that there is
nothing for me to do I shall
go home"
Would Campaign
Ask whether she would re-
main through the final session
If Senator Kennedy were nom
- 80 l.