Evening star., 1960-07-13


extravaganza, held, of all
place in an NBC studio at the
corner of Sunset and Vine,
But. underneath, it was an
old-fashioned backroom battle,
with variations that can be at
tributed only to the oddities of
the California populace.
The Kennedy forces entered
the caucus abrim with conf
dence. California Gov. Edmund
G. (Pat) Brown had Endorsed
Senator Kennedy and predict
ed he would deliver a majority
of the 81 votes to his choice.
Sought Delay
But they wanted another day
to convince more delegates of
the virtues Of the Massachu-
sets lawmaker, and they
thought they had the votes to
postpone a poll of the delega-
ton until today.
When Robert Kennedy
checked the situation with the
local Kennedy manager, Rep
resentative Shelley. Just before
the caucus began, Mr.. Shelley
told him: We've got a coali-
ton with the Stevenson people
so we won't get a poll today"
The first sign that things
were not going according to
the script came when Senator
Symington and Senator Ken
nedy addressed the caucus. The
Missourian drew longer ap-
plause than the front-runner
This was followed by a more
serious blow. In a huddle be-
hind the blue curtains of the
television stage, Gov. Brown
and Mr.. Shelley got the word
from the California Stevenson
leaders, State Senator George
Miller, jr., and Don Rose, that
the postponement deal was of
Fail to Heed Leaders
AS Senator Miller later ex-
planned it, Stevenson delegates
simply refused to indorse the
agreement made by their lead
ers. 1t turned out to be the first
Of many times during the after
noon that the troops failed to
heed the generals. Now we go
on with the story:
Out front, Representative
Holifield is reporting to the
caucus on the provisions of the
platform, while operatives OF
the Kennedy, johnson, Syming-
ton and Stevenson camps check
signals with their delegates.
Behind the blue curtains,
Representative King, the John
son leader in California, fidgets
over his candidates absence
and worries about whether he
should press for an immediate
poll of the delegation.
The Stevenson people would
be with him, he knows, but
what about the Symington
forces? If they are serious
about their mans presidential
chances, they should want the
poll to be taken before the
Kennedy total grows. But there
are all those reports about
Senator Symington throwing
in with Senator Kennedy ir
return for the vice presidency
Will "Play 1t by Ear"
The Symington manager in
California, William Gilbert, is
making no commitments. 1--WE
will play it by ear" he says.
Then Oscar Chapman. the
former Secretary of Interior
comes in to speak for Senator
johnson who is detained by
his debate with Senator Ken
nedy at the other end of town
A quick Chapman-King hud-
die produces the decision: They
will try for an immediate poll
Out front, Gov. Brown makes
his long-anticipated with.
drawal as a favorite son. "Ir
the critical world situation,
he says. "the time has come tt
go about the work of nominal.
ing the next president.
Mr.. Shelley, the Kennedy
man. takes the floor. He pointi
out that the convention session
is due to begin in half an hour
calls for a poll of the delega'
ton at the earliest possible
moment-10 am. Wednesday
He is backed by anothe.
Kennedy leader, Roger Kent
who has told reporters thu
Massachusetts Senator cal
gain over half the Californii
votes-if the leaders of the