Evening star., 1960-05-12

Symington would not alter his
campaign strategy because of
Senator Kennedy'S victory in
Tuesdays West Virginia pri-
mary.
That victory knocked Sen
ator Humphrey out of the race
and left Senator Symington the
only declared rival to Senator
Kennedy.
Kennedy Predicts Nomination
In a press conference late
yesterday, the Massachusetts
lawmaker predicted for the first
time that he would win the
nomination. "I don't know
what ballot it will be on" Sen
ator Kennedy said. but I think
I will be nominated"
On the heels of his West
Virginia victory, which key
Democrats across the country
hailed as impressive" Senator
Kennedy was campaigning to-
day in Maryland. He is expected
to win an easy victory over Sen
ator Morse of Oregon in next
Tuesdays voting in the Free
State.
Three days later, he and Sem
ator Morse meet again in the
Oregon primary. Also on the
Oregon ballot will be Senator
Symington, Senator johnson of
Texas and the now-vanquished
Senator Humphrey.
Senator Kennedy told his
press conference he was "go-
ing on the assumption" Sena-
tor Morse would lead the field
in his home State, but he said
he expected to run ahead of
Senators Symington and John
son.. He also said he regarded |
the Oregon results as "a very
important test" of voter Senti-
ment, because it is the only
State where all the Democratic |
hopefuls appear on the same
ballot.
The Senator's names and
that of Adlai E. Stevenson were
entered by the Oregon Secre-
tary of State under the States
unique primary law. Mr..
Stevenson withdrew from the
race by filing an affidavit that |
he was not a candidate for the
nomination. Senators johnson
and Symington declined to fol-
low suit. even though the for
mer has not declared himself
a presidential aspirant and the
latter has decided not to cam
paign in any primaries.
Says Convention Chooses
Mr.. Brown said today that
Senator Symington has not
sought votes in Oregon and
will not stump the State be-
fore the May 20 primary. He
said he did not regard the out
come as important.
Senator Symington told the
National Press Club yesterday
he thought he had a good
chance to win the presidential
nomination because the histo-
ry of our party is to pick
candidates for the Presidency
at conventions"
Mr.. Brown took the same
line, agreeing that Senator
Kennedy's West Virginia show
ing was remarkable" but in
sisting that he hadn't heard of
any delegations shifting their
votes as a result.
Senator Kennedy took the
opposite viewpoint at an after
noon press conference. He
said he felt sure his string of
primary victories was having
an impact on the uncommitted
delegations and would lead to
victory for him.
The days when presidential
candidateS-unknown and un-
tested-can be nominated in
smoke-f1lled rooms . have
forever passed from the scene"
he declared.
Kennedy Praised
In comments yesterday on
Senator Kennedy's West Vir-
ginia showing. key Democratic
leaders praised him generously
but stopped short of giving
him their personal indorse-
mentS.
"Flattering comments on his
vote-getting ability came from
Adlai Stevenson, the State
chairman and national COM
mitteeman of New York. and
the Democratic Governors of
Michigan and California.
Several of these men also
said Senator Kennedy's show
Ing IN State that is less than
per cent Catholic provided a
strong refutation of the argu-
ment that his Catholic religion
would harm his chances in
Protestant areas.
Senator johnson, the Senate
Democratic leader, interpreted
the primary as eliminating re-
Aglon as a campaign factor.
The West Virginia primary
LOST