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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (July 25, 1952)
I Stevenson, Far Ahead Kefa uver of Field Going Into Stretch Br ALICIA RUHL Chicago, July 23 (By Air mail) Tfte Democratic field. which two days ago seemed nothing but a slate of "dark horses," is already narrowing down to the favored few. Vice President Barkley's withdrawal late Monday night left the con test pretty much between Ste venson. Kefauver, and Harri man with what seems to be, at this early stage, a strong edge in favor of the Governor of Il linois. The Chicago Daily News, doubtless still "heady" over their accurate forecast of Repub lican nominees, has crawled out on another limb and predicted Stevenson's victory on an early ballot, and a newsboy greeted delegates pouring out into Chi cago's sizzling heat with the shouted comment that the tide was turning in. favor of the "bald-headed candidate from II 1 i n o i s" a characterization which would doubtless tickle the sensitive sense of humor of the man in question. In the meantime, the reluct ant candidate, who seems to think that Stevenson "is the man to beat," has been doing his best to do just that, without appar ently making a dent on anyone. His technique seems to be to squeeze the air out of the bar loon without going so far as to prick it, and since the balloon swells despite him no one takes these efforts very seriously. Barkley's withdrawal has left some footloose - and - fancy - free votes, most of which Steven son supporters claim will de flect to them, but it is too soon to count out Senator Kefauver, whose popularity with the mass es is evidenced by the prepon of Kefauver buttons and coonskin caps sprinkled amongst the crowd. (Oddly noueh. an amazing number of the coonskin-cap contingent look quite at home in their headgear.) Kefauver, whom one suspects is deeper than meets the surface, nonetheless knows the import ance of the surface, and is dog gedly playing true to character. Anyone passing the Palmer House Hotel late yesterday af ternoon could have seen the delegate from Tennessee patient ly urging a stubbornly disin clined donkey through the door. Candidate Harriman, who is popular with labor and pos sibly with President Truman seems to suffer from a cloistered personality and a somewhat too uncloistered tongue which is hardly likely to convince the convention ' that, even if he is "the man to beat," it would be Very difficult to do so. It seems likely, therefore, that the contest will soon narrow down to Stevenson and Kefauv er. President Truman has thus far held his fire probably de liberately and if he continues to do so much longer the boom for Stevenson may be irretriev ably launched. Some of the pace and sustain ed tension of the Republican convention has fizzled out, and the Stockyard auditorium de spite its new and snappier decor, its new and relatively fresh delegates has a somewhat anti-climactic atmosphere about it. This convention is less well attended, and the city though still alive with sirens, calliopes, and sideshows of various sorts is jess interested in the perform ance. The crowds around the auditorium have thinned out and one not only gets a clearer idea of the whole crazy panor ama but is an easier subject to various handouts, so that one arrives at one's destination with an armful of pamphlets adver tising everything from Kefauver to Jesus Christ. The bars across the street all have large wel coming banners strung across their windows, varying only in the drink they have to offer, so that one reads "Welcome Delegates! Cool off with a glass of Schlitz!" the next, "Cool off with a glass of Budweiser!", "a glass of Blatz," etc. Inside the auditorium the Democrats impress one as more colorful, noisier, and less atten tive than the Republicans. The performance is better stage managed on the whole from the point of view of entertain ment rather than drama; but the list of speakers includes no great star attractions such as the Re publicans were able to muster, and this is probably just as well since the speakers can hardly be heard above the muffled roar which constantly rises from the bobbing, surging delegates' pit. Temporary Chairman Dever, wno someone cracked made a fine temporary chairman be cause he had such a temporary voice, ruined his vocal chords the first day and since has only been able to make himself heard with the gavel. '-'Will the dele gates kindly keep silent," croaks Dever painfully, his voice breaking and completely going under on the last word. Mrs. India Edwards, whom he has just introduced, casts a cal culating look over the complete ly unsubdued sea in front of her, her rather formidable jaw sets, her mouth thins out, she grabs the gavel and pounds sharply bringing momentary order out of chaos. This afternoon, she says, you have heard several speakers, and you have been ex ceedingly rude! All the tele vision audience has remarked on it. Now I can perfectly well sit down right now, or I can go on if you are willing to listen to what I have to say. This brings a good-natured roar from the crowd and a promise to behave, so that Mrs. Edwards some what mollified is able to pro ceed. But Eleanor Roosevelt, "the first lady of the World" as Chairman Dever somewhat over-enthusiastically introduced her was more tolerant and completely helpdess in the ova tion which her appearance on the rostrum set off. She looked a little uncomfortable as time went on, but never lost her good nature, and smiling and waving occasionally, exuded that aura of good will which is particular ly characteristic of her. From time to time she would turn appealingly to Dever, but Dever, beaming with obvious approval at the crowd was clear ly happy to be voiceless and no help at all. Her face disappeared and re-appeared kaleidoscopical ly amidst the shifting, bobbing banners of the parading dele gates. First she tried waving them into their seats, but they re sponded to this as they might to a cheer leader, so she subdued her gestures into a kind of gen tle, fanning motion, like some one handling a particularly touchy cake of yeast. The ova tion was clearly partly directed at the First Lady herself, but probably more of a tribute to the "Great White Father" of the Democratic party, whose face from a huge poster to the right of the rostrum smiled down knowingly on the noise and tumult. Friday, July 25, 1952 MEDFORD (OREGON) MAIL TRIBUNE THREE Accordion Band Will Play at Convention Members of the Eve Prentice Accordion band have been in vited to play at the American Legion state convention in Klamath Falls this week-end, it was announced by Mrs. Prentice today. A group of the band members will go over in cars driven by parents on Saturday, Mrs. Pren tice said. They will gather at the studio at 11 a.m., and will leave at noon. Another group, bringing the band to full strength, will go over on Monday, and will march in the parade on Tuesday. Accomodations and meals for band members are being ar ranged for by the Legion, ac cording to Mrs. Prentice. TIME TO RUN Naugatuck, Conn. (U.R) Mrs. Joseph Gejda, Jr., turned and ran after raising a window shade of her home. Bearing down on her was a giant trailer I truck. The front of the truck landed on the Gejda's front porch. No one was hurt. There's Always Something New And Unusual At Bush Home Furnishings Co. Southern Oregon's Furniture Showplace OPEN EVENINGS ENDS TOMORROW-5:30 P.M. Don't Miss This Once a Year Opportunity! PRICES SLASHED! (THERE ARE TERRIFIC PRICE CUTS) EVEN SOME OF THE SALE PRICES HAVE BEEN CUT AGAIN Additional Items Put On Sale Use Your Charge Account opt gap? fflEuF0Ru,0RE60n. 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