DEMOCRATS: Off-Year Roll Call

From the 1,641 delegates to the 1952 Democratic National Convention, Adlai Stevenson received 273 votes on the first roll call, 617½ on the third and deciding ballot. On the sound theory that the 1952 delegates, many of whom will be back in Chicago next year, form a significant bloc of political opinion, the Chicago Daily News recently polled them about 1956 prospects, received answers from 36%. Chief finding: although a big majority believes that Stevenson will win the nomination, only two out of five list him as their personal choice.

Asked to name the most likely winner, the delegates voted: Stevenson 65%, New York’s Governor Averell Harriman 21%, Tennessee’s Senator Estes Kefauver 6%, scattered candidates 8%.

Asked about their personal choices, they voted: Stevenson 38.5%, Kefauver 23%, Georgia’s Senator Richard Russell 12%, Harriman 11%, scattered 15.5%.

Many of the 1,641 delegates had only half votes. Full convention votes totaled 1,230, with 616 needed to nominate. After Stevenson passed 616, his nomination was made unanimous.