Evening star., 1960-01-03
KENNEDY
Kennedy Drops Hat
Into Presidential Rino
Continued From First Page

Continued From First Page
he said he will not contest III
New Hampshire, where Senator
Kennedy said his name will be
filed.
Senator Kennedy's announce
ment and Senator Humphreys
earlier entry into the race
brought this one-sentence COM
ment from Adlai Stevenson:
Il am delighted that We have
two such excellent candidates
already announced as Senator
Humphrey and Senator Ken
. nedy."
No Humphrey Comment
There was no comment from
Senator Humphrey or from the
two other Democratic Senators
expected to figure in the battle
for the nomination, johnson OF
Texas and Symington of Mis-
souri,.
Gov. Brown of California
said in a statement in San
Francisco between halves of the
East West Shrine football
game: we have a free pri-
mary in California and any
candidate who has the desire
certainly has the right to enter
It," Gov. Brown added that
he probably would be favor
ite-son candidate, but is very
happy" to see Senator Kennedy
in the race for the nomination.
. Gov. Hodges Of North Caro-
lima said Senator Kennedy
will be one of the strong cam
didates at the Democratic con-
vention. I am happy ! see
him come out" Gov. Lawrence
of Pennsylvania said: I'VE
have no comment. What's TO
comment about?"
Democratic leaders through
out New England, led by Gov.
Ribicof of Connecticut, ac-
claimed Senator Kennedy's an
nouncement and pushed for
ward with plans to take a solid
six-State coalition of ia Ken
nedy delegates to the conven-
ton next July.
Senator Kennedy was asked
If he considered his state
ment about the preferential
primaries as a direct challenge
TO Senator Symington Ito come
in and get his feet wet"
II would say" Senator Ken
nedy replied, that any candi-
date who plans to have his
name presented as a serious
candidate in July should enter
some representative primaries"
He said this was necessary
to enable voters to judge the
candidates and because pri-
maries illuminate the quality
Of the candidate"
Senator Symington has not
nounce his candidacy.
Neither has Senator johnson.
Comments on Stevenson
Senator Kennedy said he
would except Mr.. Stevenson
from his invitation to battles
in the primaries. He explained
that Mr.. Stevenson has an
nounced no plans to become
a candidate and that from his
presidential campaigns in 1852
and 1856 the party and the
country "are aware of his char
acter and his qualities"
Senator Kennedy declined to
say whom he regards as the
main threat to his nomination
among the Democratic candi-
dates. In his opinion, the SEN
ator said. it will be clear by the
end of the primaries in May
who the nominee will be. In
any event. he added, he does
not expect a deadlocked con-
vention.
Asked if he was glad New
York's Gov. Nelson A. Rookie
feller withdrew from the Re-
publican race, the Senator said:
Il was surprised but mott
did not make me glad"
He expressed the opinion
that the withdrawal will make
the problem of Vice President
Nixon, who seems to have a
clear road for the nomination,
more difficult. He did not say
why.
Senator Kennedy, a Catholic,
dCkloWledged that religion will
be "a matter of discussion in
the campaign in the press and
among political leaders.
But he said that he would
think 1t would be a matter of
less Importance" among the
voters and added:
Il would think there is really.
only one issue involving the
whole question OF a candidates
religion, that is, does a candi-
date believe in the Constitution.
does he believe in the First
Amendment, does he believe in
the separation of church and
state?"
He said he had given his
views fully in the past and "I
think the subject is ex-
hausted." He added that the
matter was settled l6O years
ago TO my satisfaction and I
hope to the satisfaction of all
other Americans"
There would be no Value. he
reraaSked, in discussing 1t in