Into Line

While Democrats from A (for Alabama) to V (for Virgin Islands) last week began translating the national convention into terms of Chicago timetables and hotel reservations, eleventh-hour state conventions and committee meetings assayed candidates and took preconvention stands.

NEW JERSEY. Delegates heard appeals by Candidates Averell Harriman and Estes Kefauver and by Adlai Stevenson's campaign manager, Jim Finnegan, but elected to go to the convention uncommitted. Though the group is heavily pro-Stevenson, leaders will plump for the delegation's chairman, Governor Robert B. Meyner, as a first-ballot favorite son.

OHIO. The 58-vote delegation decided against the unit rule, although almost all votes are controlled on the first ballot by Governor Frank Lausche, who will be nominated for President by Gubernatorial Hopeful Mike Di Salle. In a preconvention hedge, Lausche's aides prepared to welcome Harriman campaigners into Ohio this week, listen respectfully to talk about a Harriman-Lausche ticket.

MISSISSIPPI. Despite the stifling heat in Jackson's city auditorium, Governor James Plemon Coleman quickly whipped the state convention into line, eased a Coleman majority into the 44-man unit-rule delegation. He thus headed off the rebels who wanted to make third-party noises before the convention and left himself free to bargain in Chicago for the loosest civil-rights plank he can get.

ARKANSAS. The State Committee picked a 26-vote delegation, immediately imposed a unit rule. Although there are Symington, Harriman and Kefauver admirers among the delegates, Arkansas should go for Stevenson on the first ballot, will campaign for Arkansas Senator William Fulbright for Vice President.

COLORADO. The state convention met to hear speeches by Stevenson, Kefauver and Harriman, and to pick an uninstructed 20-vote delegation which leans strongly to Adlai. Harry Truman's Agriculture Secretary Charles Brannan and ex-Congressman John Carroll got approval to fight it out for the Democratic senatorial nomination in a Sept. 11 primary. The winner will square off against ailing Republican Eugene Millikin in November.

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