Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-10-04
KENNEDY
NENI\EDl
Aides See Heodwoy in illinois
After Day Marked by IS Talks
Continued From First Page

Lincoln.
Senator Kennedy recalled
that Lincoln became President
without claiming much prac-
tical experience but did possess
qualities Of leadership, courage
and foresight. Senator Ken
nedy implied Mr.. Nixon lacks
those qualities so essential to
the presidency.
He took occasion in Spring.
field and elsewhere in Central
and Southern Illinois to attack
the Republican nominees farm
program proposals as "a COL
lection of old Benson fables
under new Nixon labels"
Up to 10000
Street crowds that greeted
Senator Kennedy. particularly
in East st. Louis and Belle
vile. were estimated as high as
10000. At least 5000 filled
football field stands at South
ern Illinois University in Car
bondale.
Senator Douglas and Rep
resentative Price. who repre-
sents the East st. Louis and
Alton district in the House,
declared turnouts were the
largest and heartiest they ever
saw in those communities.
Mr.. Price predicted that, while
Mr.. Nixon might carry some
usually Republican rural Sec
tons, he will get only regular
Republican votes" and not run
as well as President Eisenhower
did.
Various political organization
people and others made no Sc
cret Of the fact that Senator
Kennedy faces a difficult prob
lem In that part Of Illinois be-
cause Of his religion.
That Is another reason why
his personal appearances and
strenuous speechmaking in so
many large and small commu-
mites and before varied groups
such as farmers and industrial
workers was necessary, they
said.
Paul Powell, Democratic
speaker of the Illinois Legis-
lature. said he believes the diff
flculties began to ease when
Senator Kennedy made a good
impression in his first TV de-
bate with Mr.. Nixon. He also
cited what he called a "revul-
sion" by many persons against
a particularly virulent display
Of prejudice early in the cam
paign. /
In Springfield last night Sem
ator Kennedy said he welcomed
an opportunity in a question
and-anSwer period to reply to-
a query as to whether as al
Catholic he could faithfully full
fill duties Of the presidency.
II do not mind answering q
question of that kind" he said.
Some people are honestly dis
turbed on that point. I do not
see how anyone who believes
in the moral law or the prin-
ciples of Christianity or Juda-
ism would be unable to perform
the duties of the President.
But is that means that a Presi-
dent would allow any inter-
ference inside or outside CT
this country then I say to you
he could be subject to impeach-
ment."
Leaving st. Louis shortly
after 8 am. yesterday, Senator
Kennedy crossed the Mississippi
River and spoke first in Alton,
ILL.,, at almost the exact spot
where Abraham Lincoln and
Stephen Douglas debated in
1858.
Major Speech Ends Day
He wound up the days work
last night with the major
speech in Springfield where
Lincoln'S tomb is a national
shrine.
The Kennedy cavalcade
started in heavy rain and ran
through frequent showers until
midafternoon. Mainly because
Of delays by large and insistent
crowds, his encourage had to
pass up scheduled lunch and
dinner stops. When it finally
arrived in Springfield more
than two hours late, Senator
Kennedy went almost immedi-
ately to the 7,000-capacity
armory for a televised speech.
He looked refreshed and re-
Sponded vigorously to the
crowds enthusiasm. He and his
dragged-out staff and the &C
companying wSmen had
lightened the day by storing up
a memorable collection of cpl
sodes along the campaign trail.
These included:
The Belleville Gll0 bride and
groom who hurried across a
slippery street when Senator
Kennedy's car approached soon
after they left a church. OBJ
liviouS of her cleaning gown
and veil, the bride leaned over
Senator Kennedy's car and I'M
pulsively kissed him on the
cheek.
Inc group OF young nuns VINO
ran into the street near the
East st. Louis Qll.) hospital
where they are nurses. They
shook hands with Senator Ken
needy.
Believing Competition
The applause Of hundreds of
st. Louis National Stockyards
workers who had to compete
with the mooing, believing,
bleating or grunting of nearby
cattle while Senator Kennedy
spoke.
The Belleville reunion of
Senator Kennedy and Edgar