Evening star., 1960-07-12
DEMOCRATS
Continued From First Page

your SOuC0SIn IIlCIluS gave JOu
in 1856. 1t is interesting to
know that you need them now
Personally. I believe that the
problems before us are far too
important to be determined on
the basis solely of regional and
sectional issues.
".As a firm believer in the
democratic process, especially
as it relates to national party
conventions, may suggest that
in response to your request we
appear together before a joint
session of the Texas and Mas
sachusetts delegations in eau
Gus and debate the major issues
on which these bodies solemnly
will act later this week"
No Major Change, He Says
Although most veteran poll
ticians here have conceded the
presidential nomination to Sen
ator Kennedy for several days
Senator johnson insisted to-
day that except for the head
lines" there has not been any
material change in the relative
strength of Senator Kennedy
and himself.
Senator johnson said the
only change in recent days was
a revolt" in the California
delegation. which kept Gov.
Edmund G. Brown in the pic
ture as a favorite son instead
Of going Immediately to Sen
ator Kennedy.
Senator johnson said this
was a setback for Senator Ken
nedy. He dismissed the 64 votes
Pennsylvania gave, Senator
Kennedy yesterday by saying
the Massachusetts, Senator
probably gained there only as
much as he had lost in
California.
Questioned About Press
Senator johnson was asked
whether he personally associ-
ated himself with the conten-
tion Of some of his hackers that
newsmen have accorded Sena-
tor Kennedy more favorable
treatment than Senator john
son.
mo one can deny that the
press hasn't been completely
impartial" Senator johnson
replied.
Earlier, a spokesman fol
Senator johnson dismissed as
"fallacious" a report that he
might withdraw when the roll
is called in the convention to-
morrow and throw his support
to Adlai Stevenson.
Senator Kennedy said he be-
lieved he had 761 votes without
counting any from California
New Jersey. Minnesota or the
District of Columbia, which
have not yet decided where tc
let their settle.
An unofficial Associated
Press tabulation gave Senator
Kennedy 688la promised votes
on the first ballot, which is only
721z short Of the required ma
jority. Senator Kennedy's claim
Of being over the top already
undoubtedly is based on the
additional votes he expects to
get from the delegations that
have not yet counted noses.
other Names Mentioned
Although johnson. Syming-
ton and Stevenson supporters
still were hoping for a miracle
that would head off an early
Kennedy victory and pave the
way for a real contest. most
observers here saw no sign Of
one in the making.
Senator Symington's name
was only one Of half-doZen be-
ing mentioned for Vice Pres
ident, but Senator Kennedy
made it clear to a press con-
ference that he was making no
decision until the presidential
nomination is settled. 1t Is
believed he will make the de-
cision himself, and there has
been no talk of an "open con-
vention" on the running mate
Others Senator Kennedy said
would be acceptable to him as
running mates were Senator
Jackson of Washington, Gore
of Tennessee and Cows. Free
man of Minnesota, Docking OF
Kansas and Loveless of Iowa.
When asked about Senator
Symington, Senator Kennedy
said he was reluctant to dis
cuss men who are still COM
peting with him for the pres.
idential nomination.
But the torrent of rumors or
whom the Massachusetts Sen
ator was considering as his
running mate was weighted
heavily. in favor of Senator
Symington. Particularly sig.
nificant was the fact that re.
ports coming from those clost
to the heart Of the Kennedy
camp almost all either men.
toned Symington alone or re-
ported a debate involving thu
Missouri Senator and some
other possibility.
Age Angle Studied
One Kennedy supporter
pointed out that Senator Sy,
mington, who is SO, would hell
meet the objections to Senate,
Kennedy's youthfulness and il
well placed geographically, be-
ing from the Midwest. TIL,
same source noted that Senate
Synington had not antagonizet
any of the other contenders il
the pre-convention campaign.
The question of whethe
Senator Symington would &C
cept second place on the ticke
was another matter, however