Evening star., 1960-06-28
Four 'Fovorite Son Democrats Meet
To Maintain Freedom of Action
Bya star stan Writer

agreed to try to maintain their
freedom of action" when they
breakfasted together today in
what was regarded as a SLOW
Kennedy" movement.
We're still favorite sons"
said New Jersey Gov. Robert B.
Meyner after the huddle.
Meeting with him were Gov.
Edmund G. (Pat) Brown of
California, Gov. Herschel C.
Loveless Of Iowa and Gov.
George Docking of Kansas. To-
gether their States have l69
votes in the convention
enough to sway, perhaps, the
course of early balloting at the
convention opening in Los An
geles July IL.
No Unity Agreement
They were asked If they had
agreed to stick through the
first ballot and Gov. Brown re-
piled that they had not.
Cows. Meyner and Brown
said no effort was made to get
an agreement on unified action
by the four favorite sons at the
convention.
They emphasized that it
would be better for the party
in the fall campaign if the
nomination is not all sewed up
in advance of the convention.
We want to maintain freedom
OF action, Gov. Meyner said.
He said it would be necessary
for him as well as other favor
ite son candidates to consult
with their delegations before
deciding on a course of action.
The favorite sons also dis
cussed the movement to draft
Adlai E. Stevenson, twice the
Democratic candidate, for the
nomination. They agreed such
a movement was under way,
but Gov. Brown said the
chances were very remote"
that it would succeed.
Gov. Meyner arranged the
meeting as rival forces of Sem
ator johnson of Texas and
Senator Kennedy of Massachu-
Setts, the front runner, dis
creetly maneuvered for support
at the SD annual Governors
Conference.
All of the four favorite sons
said their breakfast was not
stop Kennedy" movement.
But they were less emphatic
in saying it was not a move
ment to prevent a flrst-ballot |
stampede to Senator Ken
nedy, whose chief supporter
here, Gov. Abraham A. Ribicoff |
of Connecticut, told a news con-
ference he will have between |
$50 and TOO votes on the first .
ballot.
1--WE just want to see who's
running" quipped Gov. Meyner. !
More seriously. he added, IF |
you want a deliberate rather
than a rubber stamp conven-
tion, what's wrong with that?"
No one considered the meet
ing any formidable challenge to
Senator Kennedy, for he is con-
sidered to have most of the 1863 |
favorite son votes once the four |
Governors have experienced
their moment of glory.
Strong Support Due
He is expected to get at least
81 of New Jerseys II votes
eventually. Gov. Loveless has
credited him with 16 of Iowa's
26 votes after the first ballot,
with the rest split between Sen
ators johnson and Symington
of Missouri. The Kennedy
forces claim all of Kansas 81
votes after the first ballot.
Gov. Brown, one of a parade
of Democratic Governors who
held news conferences yester-
day, said Senator Kennedy held
the edge among the California
delegation for the States 81
votes, with Mr.. Stevenson a
close second and Senators john
son and Symington "substan-
TALLY behind"
State chairmen of both New
Jersey and Iowa, who work
closely with their Governors,
already have come out for Sem
ator Kennedy. Asked if the
breakfast meeting was Gov.
Meyner's answer to his an
nouncement for Senator Ken
nedy, Robert j. Burkhardt, the
New Jersey chairman, said:
I'm for Gov. Meyner, period"
Gov. Meyner, standing by,
asked: But how long a .
period?"
Brown DiscIOSeS Meeting
Gov. Brown disclosed the
breakfast meeting during his
news conference. He limited he
might release the delegation
before the end of the first bal
lot and almost in the same
breath remarked that Il want
this convention to be interest
ing and not like a Jefferson
Jackson Day dinner"
The Governor, who said last
week he was leaning toward
Senator Kennedy, said my
posture is unchanged" After ,
some flattering comments
about Mr.. Stevenson it was
suggested to the Governor he
was not leaning too much.
THAT is the assumption I'd
like to create" Gov. Brown re-
torted.
The affable Californian dem
onstrated what makes politics
fascinating as well as confusing.
In quick order he said Mr..
Stevenson stood a good chance
of the nomination if there is
a convention deadlock. that
there won't be a deadlock and
if there is one he'd like to see
a favorite son considered for