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West Virginians received a pat on the back for their interest in the upcoming election and the issues involved today.

The praise came from Edward M. (Ted) Kennedy, brother of the presidential hopeful, Sen. John F. Kennedy, who is touring the Northern Panhandle today and tomorrow on behalf of his brother.

The youngest (he's 28) of the Kennedy clan bears a striking resemblance to his older brother and speaks with the same firmness and down-to-earth approach that characterized his brother's visit last week.

"I've seen more enthusiasm and interest in the coming election among West Virginians than I've seen in all the other places I've visited while touring for my brother," he said.

He went on to point out that the people are very "responsive" and seem to appreciate the interest West Virginia is receiving in the campaign.

"The residents of West Virginia seem to take their politics seriously, are much more conscious of issues and know more about the candidates' records than other segments of the population," he added.

"When you attend a rally and ask for questions," he continued, "the people don't speak in generalities, they ask specific questions on definite issues. They seem to want to know."

Kennedy pointed out that his brother and he both agree that "the May 10 primary will be extremely helpful to West Virginia since it is putting the national spotlight on the state and its problems."

Today Kennedy is touring stores, industries and businesses in Marshall County after leaving the Hotel McLure with Benwood Mayor Henry Musilli and McMechen Mayor Victor Majzer.

Tonight's schedule includes a meeting in the courthouse at Moundsville from 7:30 until 8:30 p.m., and a visit to the American Legion Hall from 9:30 until 10:30 p.m.

Returning to Wheeling to spend the night, he will leave Tuesday for the northern section of the panhandle with visits to the Weirton Steel Corp., Newell and Chester potteries, and a speech at the courthouse in New Cumberland at 10:50 a.m.

Lunch will be served in the Community Center in Weirton at 12:50 p.m., and during the afternoon he will visit other industries in the area.

He will leave tomorrow night for Washington, D. C.

Asked for comment this morning on whether the Kennedy camp feels Vice President Nixon, Gov. Cecil Underwood of West Virginia, and the Republicans have joined the "Stop Kennedy" gang-up in West Virginia, he said the remarks of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jr., summed the situation up.

FDR Jr. charged that Nixon has sent word down to West Virginia's Gov. Underwood and that charges made by Underwood last week were meant to deceive West Virginians and were part of a GOP effort to try and stop Kennedy because, as Roosevelt said, Nixon thinks Kennedy would be toughest to beat in the November General Election.

Ted Kennedy did say, however, that there are definite maneuvers on the parts of the announced and unannounced Democratic candidates to "gang-up" on his brother in the primary here.

"All the candidates are waiting to see what happens here in West Virginia," he added. "Their future actions will depend on the outcome of the election in West Virginia."

["]At present," he said, "it is difficult to evaluate any candidate's chances in the coming election. The outcome in West Virginia will be highly significant in the decision of who will run and who will not. However, it will be at least May 20 before any trend as to who the Democratic nominee will be develops."

He went on to add that while he, his brother, and other members of the Kennedy stumping staff have been well-received all over the state "we are facing an uphill fight in the state and our backs are against the wall."

"People are impressed with Jack's war record and his record on unemployment," he continued. "They understand the parallel between West Virginia and our home state of Massachusetts where the failure of the textile industry hurt labor forces severely after the second World War.

Ted Kennedy is an attorney in Boston and a graduate of Harvard University and the University of Virginia Law School.

He has spent the past week in West Virginia touring north from Pt. Pleasant to New Martinsville and then across the state.

"It's a part of my brothers interest in the state that brings me here," he concluded.

SUMMERSVILLE, V.Va. (UPI) - Democratic presidential hopeful Hubert Humphrey today called for a "food stamp" program to enable families of the unemployed or with low income to supplement their diets.

Humphrey, starting a two-day campaign tour of north central and northeastern West Virginia, said "this well-fed, complacent Republican administration ignores the terrible hunger now stalking communities in West Virginia and elsewhere."

The Minnesota senator is opposing Sen. John Kennedy (D-Mass.) in the May 10 West Virginia primary.

Starting his outline of what he said will be a "program of progress" for West Virginia - to be outlined during his tour by bus - Humphrey said:

"The use of food stamps to expand purchasing power of low-income groups, enabling needy families to supplement their diets through normal channels of trade is more efficient, more effective and more decent than mere handouts of surplus commodities at welfare offices."

He said such food assistance could be made available through regular stores.

"Such expansion of purchasing power and increased food consumption would help meet farm surplus problems without everything having to go through government hands," Humphrey said.

He noted he has introduced legislation for such a program and it is now pending before Congress and that it is part of his "10-point program of progress for West Virginia's economic revival."

Humphrey's bus-car caravan started from Charleston at 6 a.m. The party waited until it got to Summersville for breakfast, then Humphrey made his first speech on the steps of the Nicholas County Court House as residents were heading for work.

As Kennedy did last week, Humphrey criticized Agriculture Secretary Ezra T. Benson for not putting a food stamp program into effect, although he has authorization from Congress.

"It is incredible that the administration can remain indifferent to actual hunger in so many communities," Humphrey said.

"...The present administration says the program is not needed because there is no depression in the country (but)...I have seen the effects of hunger - young men too weak to work, old men to[p] gaunt to stand, children too thin to play."

Humphrey said Republican leaders should "take off their rose-colored glasses long enough to ask some of the folks compelled to exist on a meager handout of surplus foods whether they are happily dieting of their own accord."

The first day of the second extended Humphrey campaign trip winds up with a $10-a-plate dinner tonight at Fairmont where he will make a speech on his program to aid West Virginia.

The Fairmont overnight stop followed speeches, mostly from court houses, at Summersville, Webster Springs, Buckhannon and Philippi. On Tuesday, he has visits slated to Kingwood, Terra Alta, Keyser, Romney, Berkeley Springs, Martinsburg and Charles Town.

Mayor Joseph E. Dillon, of St. Paul, Minnesota, will be campaigning in the Panhandle Area this week on behalf of Senator Hubert H. Humphrey.

Dillon is currently serving his thired [sic] term as mayor of St. Paul, a city of 350,000 population.

On Tuesday he will be in Wellsburg and Follansbee in the morning; New Cumberland and Weirton in the afternoon; in Wheeling in the [e]vening.

On Wednesday, he will accompany Mrs. Humphrey, covering the same area.

On Thursday, he will return to Wheeling and will visit the City-County Building.

Dillon is 38 years old and has been prominent in the national Association of Municipalities.