European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 20, 1967, Darmstadt, Hesse Stripes the primary winds Are blowing in new Hampshire color the autumn leaves Politica by Stanton j. Berens Dpi staff writer autumn teased the Maples Birch Sand elms into an orgy of color red Gold and flaming Orange. The firs and Pines towered stubbornly Green. This pause before Winter is a time for fairs in new Hampshire. But any time is fair for politics As new Hamp Shire is the starting Gate on the Tough track to the White House. You get the impression in chatting with the partisans that candidates Are As plentiful As the covered wooden Bridges that Grace the Countryside. And you Don t have to Cross any Bridges to unearth taproot organizations for re publicans Richard m. Nixon Ronald Reagan and George Romney and demo crat Robert f. Kennedy. Nelson Rockefeller s name floats to the surface in the parlor game of politics but his disciples seem to be in the wings. There Are loud whispers too that Illinois sen. Charles h. Percy an Massachusetts gov. John a. Volpe May dip into the Republican Stream. President Johnson s entry into the first presidential primary of 1968 is a possibility despite White House disa Vowal. And a Maverick Democrat for Mer gov. George Wallace of Alabama has said he May be a candidate. The polls put Nixon ahead but Public sentiment is far from firm in this politically paradoxical state whose big claim to political Fame the Earl Bird presidential primary was born of Yankee shrewdness and practicality. For nearly four decades new Hampshire elected National convention delegates by popular vote on the third tuesday in May. The legislature advanced the primary to the second tues Day in March to coincide with town meeting Day a Day heretofore devote to the election of town officers from selectman to Surveyor. There were several reasons for the change. Not the least was the publicity the state would receive for beating Theresa of the nation to the ballot Box. Also the dual purpose voting would at tract a larger turnout. was in 1952 that new Hampshire became the Lead off state for the firs time. It has been stealing the opening acts of the big political show Ever since. With the 1968 primary less than six months away there is talk of politics and Vietnam and living costs but new Hampshire is taking its role calmly. It s too Early said onetime olym Pic skier Penny Pitou whose big con Cern was widening the trails in the Gil Ford ski area. At the 92nd annual fair at Rochester Robert Gardner 39, of Dover strolled through an exhibit of paintings Anaesthetic contrast to a sideshow blonde who stroked a tired Boa Constrictor Ina wooden pit of snakes. Gardner an Engineer and Amateur artist had Defi Nite opinions about the paintings but he said the primary was still too Farouk of focus to form an opinion about it. If most voters Are undecided asap patently they Are it is the task of men like Davuli Sterling of Hillsborough John l. Macdonald of Manchester Wil Liam Johnson of Hanover and Eugene Friday october 20, 1967 up gov. King defends Early vote As first authentic sampling of. s. Danill or. Of Franklin to Mold pub Lic sentiment. Sterling a lawyer is state Campaign manager for Nixon. Macdonald owner of an advertising specially firm is try ing to drum up grassroots support for Reagan. Johnson is directing the Romney forces in new Hampshire. Daniell is spark plugging a Campaign for Ken Nedy. All aim for support in the polling Booths but the Means to the end May vary by virtue of new Hampshire complicated ballot. One part is the preferential poll in which the voter simply Marks an a beside the name of the candidate he wants to win. Another part is comprised of slates of Conven Tion delegates pledged or favourable Toa candidate. Then there is provision for the voter to write in the name of his Choice. It requires a candidate s consent Mohave his name entered in the popularity poll or to have a slate of delegates pledged to him. No consent is needed for a slate of favourable delegates or fora write in Campaign. Thus Reagan and Kennedy for exam ple can be entered in the primary with or without their approval. The primary has been criticized Asan overrated display of expensive show Manship but new Hampshire defends i with a vigor begetting its most famous native son orator statesman Daniel Webster. Democratic gov. John w. King say frankly that new Hamshire relishes its Day of glory. He says that despite Al the polls the primary is the first authentic sampling of voter opinion about which there can be no doubt at Hampshire s preferences May not always prevail in the november elec Tion King said but frequently they give an indication of things to Reuben Moore 73, who lives in retirement in Bradford has been an observer of new Hampshire politics since the Days of Theodore Roosevelt. It was Moore who As a Republican state representative introduced the legislation set Ting up the primary in its present form. Moore says that in retrospect he does t like the stipulation that a person can find himself a contender without his consent. Otherwise he thinks the primary Law he fathered is working results reach far beyond the Borders of the state he said. And he chuckled. It s been a great Success in advertising the Upton former new Hamp Shire House speaker who worked closely with Moore in getting the primary Law adopted wished aloud that it did attract so Many candidates because the ultimate Winner does not represent Clear thus far Nixon is the front runner Friend and political foe alike seem to agree. Then depending on who you talk to you Are left with the impression that Reagan is coming on Strong just ahead or just behind Romney. A prominent Democrat Manchester mayor Roland s. Vallee believes a Nix on Reagan ticket would be the toughest for the democrats to beat. Vallee in the throes of his own Pri Mary for a third two year term As mayor mused that new Hampshire Vot continued on Page h Romney backers Leonard Hall left William r. Johnson Tell Concord n.h., group Why their Man can win there the stars and stripes Page 11
