Evening star., 1960-07-12
DEMOCRATS
Johnson Disputes
Claim of Majority


derstood the Texan had indi-
Gated he was more interested
IN his present post as Senate
majority leader than in the
vice presidency.
The S1-vote California dele
CATION. which is still technical
ly listed to Gov. Edmund g.
Pat) Brown as its favorite son,
meets again today and may
decide what it will do when
the roll is called. Gov. Brown
has come out for Senator Ken
nedy. but has delayed releasing
the delegation.
The Californians are sharply
divided between Senator Ken
nedy and Mr.. Stevenson, and
prior to today's caucus the
Stevenson wing was claiming
36 of the 81 votes.
Senator Humphrey OF Mimi
esota yesterday released the SIS
votes he had in Minnesota,
Wisconsin and the District of
Columbia, but he put of until
today an announcement Of his
own choice for the presidential
nomination. Pending his an
nouncement, his delegates also
remained silent.
New Jersey has Al votes, most
Of which are expected to 60
eventually to Senator Kennedy.
But Gov. Meyner of New Jer-
sey said today his name will
be placed in nomination as his
States favorite son. This means
that Senator Kennedy will not
get his share of the New Jer-
sey votes before the end of the
first ballot.
Senator Kennedy told a re-
porter he would ask former
President Truman to support
him in the presidential cam
paign. He drew a laugh from
his crowded press conference
when he added. particularly if
I thought I'd get a favorable
answer"
Mr.. Truman has remained
away from the convention
after making clear bis dis
pleasure at the trend of events
which have made Senator Ken
nedy the almost-certain winner
of the presidential nomination.
Senator Kennedy also re-
vealed that he would return to
the Senate for the session be-
ginning August 8, to put
through the new minimum
wage bill which he is handling,
and for other major legislation.
The Massachusetts, Senator
answered with a fiat, mo-"
when asked If he has dangled
the post of Secretary of State
in front Of Mr.. Stevenson,
Claims Challenged
Although the johnson camp
continued to challenge the
Kennedy victory claims, most
observers felt that the Pennsyl-
vania delegation ended any
real battle over the presi-
dental nomination when il
voted yesterday to give Sena-
tor Kennedy at least 64 Of its
81 votes. Senator johnson got
only AZ votes, with 8 going to
Stevenson and l to Symington.
Other developments yester-
day. which strengthened the
general atmosphere Of a Ken
Inedy victory, were: -
New York, with the biggest
delegation in the convention
announced it would give Sena-
tor Kennedy l01 of its ia
votes on the first ballot. This
was a little more than the Mas
SachuSettS Senator was sure of
several weeks ago.
Senator jackson of Wash
ington, an avowed neutral until
yesterday. came out for Sen
ator Kennedy and his delega-
ton decided to give the Massa-
chusettS Senator 151a of its
q votes.
Arizona, under the unit rule,
listed its II votes for Senator
Kennedy. and agreed to yield
its position near the top of the
roll call to any State the Ken
nedy forces designate to place
his name in nomination.
Alabama is expected to yield
its place to Texas to nominate
Senator johnson.
Although Gov. Docking of
Kansas has come out for Sen
ator Kennedy. his delegation
decided to vote for him as its
lfavorite son on the first ballot.
and then decide where its 81
votes should go from there.