A Fright for Crump

Cotton-haired Boss Ed Crump, who not only looks like Foxy Grandpa but acts like him, has had it all his own way in Tennessee's Democratic politics for years & years. Many a Tennessean had come to believe that nobody would ever dare challenge the old Red Snapper of Memphis.

But last week Mister Crump was up to his bushy eyebrows in a slugging match. A smart Democrat threatened to break the grip Ed Crump has held on Tennessee's U.S. Senators for the last 15 years.* The man who dared the Boss's revivalist anger and self-righteous vituperation was big (6 ft. 3 in.) Yale-trained Estes Kefauver of Chattanooga, a hard-working Congressman with a prolabor, New Dealish record. "Red Pet Coon." Able, 44-year-old Estes Kefauver jumped into the senatorial primary fight last winter when Mister Crump gave the boot to servile Senator Tom Stewart and hand-picked John Mitchell, a hill-country judge, as his candidate (TIME, Dec. 22). Stewart decided to run anyway. Few politicians gave Kefauver much of a chance in a three-cornered race.

But a month ago Boss Crump realized that he had picked a poor stumpster in Judge Mitchell. The judge was drawing no crowds, whipping up no enthusiasm. Kefauver was doing both--by attacking Boss Crump. Thereupon the Boss took over the real campaigning. He bought big ads in Tennessee dailies (most of which favor Kefauver), blasted away at Kefauver's "tainted Red record in Congress." Blustered Crump: "I'd as soon vote for Vito Marcantonio . . . the oxblood Red Communist of New York City." He likened Kefauver to "a pet coon" that turns its head in innocence, "while its foot is feeling around" for something to filch.

"RedHaired Wife." Most Tennesseans knew that Estes Kefauver was no more a Communist than Ed Crump himself. They liked his showmanship and the way he stayed un-Crumpled. When he invaded Memphis he wore a coonskin cap, drew big crowds. Trumpeted his followers: "If there is anything red about him it is his red-blooded Americanism and his beautiful red-haired wife."

Kefauver was drawing more than crowds. For the first time in many a campaign, an anti-Crumpet had the open backing of many business and professional men. The politicians now thought that he had a fighting chance to win the primary on Aug. 5. Win or lose, they agreed that he was the first man in a long time who had given Ed Crump a good scare.

* Cordell Hull, who left the Senate in 1933 to become Secretary of State, was the last elected Tennessee Senator who did not owe his seat to Boss Crump. For one year (1937-38), George Berry, an anti-Crump appointee, served in the Senate, was beaten in the following primary. Stalest Crumpet of all: 77-year-old Kenneth McKellar, a Senator for 31 years.

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