FDR Jr., Sen. Humphrey Attract Large Audiences
April 11, 1960
Religion and the present state of West Virginia's economy were the principal subjects of a weekend of campaigning which saw the battle for the Democrat nomination for president spread into Logan County.
First on the scene was Franklin D. Roosevelt Jr., who visited here Saturday on behalf of the candidacy of U.S. Sen. John Kennedy of Massachusetts. This morning, U.S. Senator Hubert Humphrey of Minnesota and his wife arrived here by chartered bus for a brief speaking engagement an breakfast that filled the bus terminal auditorium to capacity.
A long parade of automobiles plastered with campaign signs ushered Roosevelt into Logan at 2p.m. Saturday. He was guest of honor at a dinner at the Smoke House and later addressed a large crowd at Logan Memorial Fieldhouse.
"As a protestant," Roosevelt said. "I urge all my fellow Protestants not to make a religious issue in the West Virginia campaign.
"Our constitution clearly guarantees that there be no religious test for holding office and I hope this will be kept in mind in this election.
Sen. Humphrey, in his talk this morning, praised former President Franklin D. Roosevelt for his humanitarian programs and pointed out that the Democrat party "mobilized government to alleviate human suffering."
He also said that the principal duty of government is justice and impartiality and stated that "the office of the presidency should be open in mind and spirit and works to each of us."
The senator said that only a select few had been able to gain admittance to the White House during the administrations of President Eisenhower and that "politics has become a matter of public relations rather than public service."
Sen. Humphrey touched on two historical incidents in the county's coal mining history. He said that "men gave blood on Blair Mountain about 37 years ago for better working conditions." And added that the Holden 22 mine fire which claimed the lives of 18 miners last month pointed up the "urgent necessity for better mine safety legislation."
He also advocated an "up-dated" wage and hour law with a minimum wage of $1.25 an hour and program of public works to alleviate unemployment and a conservation program which would make West Virginia "the playground of the eastern seaboard." With the formation of a youth conservation corps to do a major share of the work.
Following his talk, the senator, his wife and his campaign entourage boarded the chartered bus for a trip south on route 10 which would take them through Oceana, Pineville, Welch, where they were scheduled to have lunch and on to Bluefield for an evening appearance.
Sen. Kennedy is due to be in Logan on April 30 on a swing which will take him through several southern West Virginia towns and cities. He and Humphrey will clash in the state's May 10 primary election which could deliver the knockout blow to the one who loses. Kennedy won last week in Wisconsin, where the Catholic vote totals about 30 per cent of the voting population. West Virginia is about five per cent Catholic, a fact that many observers say will be in Humphrey's favor.
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