The Smell of Battle

With the same instinct that tells crapshooters a big game is about to begin, politicians last week sensed a new and imminent struggle in the Democratic presidential race. Jack Kennedy was still running like a jack rabbit in Wisconsin, and everybody--but everybody--was willing to concede that he could, should and would take the Wisconsin cheese with ease. At the same time, without any call to arms, Kennedy's rivals were instinctively edging into positions that would make it easier to set up a stop-Kennedy coalition.

The smell of battle was strongest in Detroit's Sheraton-Cadillac Hotel, where representatives of 14 states gathered last week for the Democratic Midwest Conference. All the candidates, or their representatives, were on hand, along with such non-Midwesterners as New Jersey's Governor Robert Meyner and Oregon's Wayne Morse. The smiling face of Senate Majority Leader Lyndon B. Johnson beamed from posters in the hotel corridors, with arrows underneath pointing to the suite where a hospitable supply of Jack Daniel's whiskey flowed. Moreover, sagacious House Speaker Sam Rayburn, 78, was on hand to exploit every advantage for Fellow Texan Johnson.

Wisconsin was obviously on his mind when Rayburn belittled state primaries. "Never thought much of them," he rasped. And there was a strong whiff of stop-Kennedy in his not-so-chance remarks about Bob Meyner, who has vice-presidential ambitions and 41 New Jersey delegate votes to back them up. As an Easterner and a former Roman Catholic, Meyner could never hope for a spot on Kennedy's ticket, but he might fit nicely into a double bill with Lyndon Johnson. Purred Rayburn: "We're not going around promising anything to anybody. But in my book Bob Meyner rates mighty high."

Although the main focus was on Detroit, there were other signs of an impending showdown. Items: P: In Washington, Stuart Symington's announcement of his candidacy (see below), with the advice and consent of Harry Truman, had the desired effect of stiffening some Kennedy opposition. P: From Washington came word that Lyndon Johnson would declare his candidacy earlier than he had planned--probably after the California primaries in June. Asked if Lyndon would announce before the convention, Rayburn said: "He will at the proper time, if he follows my advice." Had he advised him yet? "Not yet, I haven't."

P: In New York City, two of the party's toughest old pros, Pennsylvania Governor David Lawrence and Tammany Boss Carmine De Sapio, held a high powwow (also present: onetime Illinois Kingmaker Jake Arvey) dedicated to the proposition that primaries are eyewash. De Sapio, like his good friend Harry Truman, favors the Symington candidacy. Lawrence let it be known that his heart still belongs to Adlai Stevenson ("the most capable man in either party to be President"), but those who talked to Lawrence thought they detected brain waves for Symington. Both bosses entertain strong private doubts about a fellow Catholic's chances of winning the presidency, and both would be naturals for any anti-Kennedy coalition.

Arriving late for the Detroit meeting, Kennedy was asked if he sensed the gathering opposition. "Yes," he said blandly, "in Wisconsin." After Wisconsin, though, Kennedy may well sense it elsewhere.

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