Ave & Adlai

New York City's Democratic Boss Carmine De Sapio, whose postcard polls of the party faithful always brought forth the desired results, was cheered last week by a presidential preference survey of 200,000 registered New York State Democrats. The reported results: 81% for De Sapio's man, Governor Averell Harriman, and 14% for Adlai Stevenson. In the Gallup poll, the Democratic picture was different: 55% for Stevenson, 16% for Tennessee's Senator Estes Kefauver and only 6% for Harriman. Whatever the figures, the fight last week was on. While the Keef doggedly mugged his way around the world (see PEOPLE), Adlai and Averell came out of their corners.

Drizzle in Green Bay. Stevenson made his first strictly political appearance and speech of the season at the Wisconsin State Democratic Convention in Green Bay. He seemed uncomfortably restrained, perhaps because he wanted to abstain from outright campaigning until his formal announcement next month. He did no glad-handing and he drew no cheers from the small crowd waiting in the rain at Green Bay. At the Northland Hotel he stayed close to his room, did not visit the Stevenson-for-President offices on the floor above.

In a low-keyed speech, Stevenson paid his respects to the President but criticized Administration policies; he accused Republicans of seeking "tax reduction at any price" while a long list of national problems remain unsolved: "Our schools are crowded and inadequate . . . Our highways are inadequate . . . Our rivers still get out of hand . . . Our national parks have been starved." He added: "We do not oppose tax cuts but . . . a responsible political party has greater responsibilities than winning votes at any price." His catchiest line was about Republican farm policy: "Instead of eliminating farm surpluses, as advertised, it is eliminating farmers."

Carnival in Albany. On the same day as Stevenson's speech, Averell Harriman was host to the first big political carnival of the season, a whooped-up "campaign workshop" in Albany for 1,700 Democrats running for local office in New York State this fall. Chief guest: Harry S. Truman. At least four times in the last six months, Truman has said he would support Stevenson in a second try for the presidency, but last week he changed his line.

In Boston before the rally, Truman declared that he would only announce his choice at the convention itself next year. He called himself "Adlai's friend," but added that at 64, Harriman was not too old for the presidency. Next day in Albany, Truman joined Harriman at a reception for 150 party leaders and their wives. In the vast, flag-draped Albany armory, the mass of party hopefuls were given box lunches, armloads of campaign materials, and later speeches by De Sapio, Harriman and Truman. No speaker mentioned Adlai Stevenson, and his picture was not among the big portraits of party leaders placarding the hall. Biggest: Harriman and Truman. Some guests wore "Harriman in '56" buttons, but the word went around: "Take those off."

Next morning, however, after a night at the governor's mansion and a stroll through the state capitol (where he played a few chords on the piano), Harry Truman called Harriman "a genius" and gave his candidacy a boost. "He has all the qualifications [for President]," said Truman. "If I were a citizen of New York State, I know who I'd be for." Harriman beamed. Asked if he would say the same thing about Illinois, Stevenson's state, Truman smiled, replied: "There are three or four good men in the state of Illinois." Then, having dealt Harriman a pat on the back and Stevenson something sharper, Harry Truman left Albany. Ave Harriman, who had publicly pledged his support to Stevenson last summer, turned the knife: in a TV interview at week's end, while disclaiming any intent to run himself, he said that he felt no obligation to support Adlai Stevenson.

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