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"We need someone in the White House who cares about the common man," Senator Humphrey told the more than 200 Montgomery and upper valley citizens who greeted him early last Friday afternoon at the Greyhound Bus station here in town.

Presidential hopeful Humphrey is now in the midst of a vigorous campaign seeking the support of the Democratic voters in the coming May primary. He is opposed by Senator John F. Kennedy, who likewise is scheduled to come here on Saturday, April 30.

"Some of the farmers in the Midwest are having conditions as bad as many coal miners in this state. We shouldn't have these desperate situations," he told the friendly crowd which swarmed around him at the bus station.

"The United States is the only industrial country in the world with high unemployment," he continued. "Russia, France, and Britain at the present time don't have this problem."

Humphrey blamed the trouble on what he called the indifference of the White House. He emphasized the point that America is not as rich as its stock market indicates.

In his talk which lasted for around 10 minutes, he told the people that the United States needs much more Social Security for the people.

"If we can build hotels in Miami and gambling houses in Las Vagas [sic], then we certainly can afford to raise Social Security benefits for our elderly people," the Minnesota Senator remarked.

He said it was a disgrace that many widows are forced to live on $50 a month in a country which basically has so much to offer.

"Our people in this country should come first before giving so much money away to other lands," he said.

Humphrey described himself as a former small business man who is a registered pharmacist. He still is a partner in a drug store at Huron, South Dakota.

Describing himself as a progressive liberal, Humphrey urged the people to put a Democrat in the White House.

He was applauded loudly several times during his talk. He appeared windburned from his many speaking engagements which he has been performing in recent weeks. Many remarked that he makes much better personal appearances than he looks on television.

Earl M. Vickers, Montgomery attorney and Democratic candidate for a House of Delegate nomination in Fayette county, introduced the Senator.

Humphrey was greeted by Montgomery Denver Brown and Lawrence Atha, local justice of the peace. Recorder Mike Kandel and several of the Montgomery City Council were also on hand to meet him.

While looking around the crowd and community, he compared Montgomery with his home town, which he said was about this size.

Shortly before leaving in his chartered bus for lunch at Al's Sport Center in Smithers, Humphrey told the people once more that they should by all means, put a Democrat in the White House in the coming November election.

It was announced this week that Senator John F. Kennedy, Democratic candidate for President in the West Virginia primary, may visit Montgomery on Wednesday, April 20. This visit will be in addition to his planned stop here on Saturday, April 30.

Fred A. Forbes, Kennedy's campaign adviser in West Virginia, released the following statement to the Herald: "At this time we have scheduled a possible visit in Montgomery on Wednesday , April 20 and Saturday, April 30."

U. S. Senator Hubert H. Humphrey (D-Minn.) moved out in front of U. S. Senator John F. Kennedy (D-Mass.) in a straw poll taken by the Montgomery Herald and Fayette Tribune this week. The survey was taken by telephone throughout the county.

The question asked of Democrat voters was: "If you are a Democrat, you will vote for whom, U. S. Senator John F. Kennedy or U. S. Senator Hubert H. Humphrey, for the Democratic presidential nomination?"

Senator Humphrey was picked by four to one in each coal camp which was polled by the two newspapers. Senator Kennedy made his best showing in Smithers.

In Montgomery the two presidential aspirants ran about the same. In Oak Hill Senator Humphrey ran almost eight to one over his opponent. At Gauley Bridge the two candidates ran fairly close, with Kennedy ahead.

It was in the upper Kanawha valley where the two candidates practically split even in the sample voting. But in Fayetteville district Humphrey was better than four to one over Kennedy.

Percentage-wise Humphrey polled 54 percent of the votes, while Kennedy added up a 46 percent mark. The percentage breakdown is only based upon the votes actually cast for one of the two candidates and does not include a large "undecided" vote.

A few weeks ago Senator Kennedy was the No. 1 choice for president, among both Democrats and Republicans in Fayette county. However, Senator Humphrey's hard campaigning in W. Va. seems to be paying off in votes for the fiery Minnesota senator.

Both presidential hopefuls have campaigned in W. Va., but the reader and observer must remember that Kennedy still has not made a personal appearnace [sic] in Fayette County and Humphrey has. After Kennedy's visit here the Herald and Tribune intend to sample public opinion once more before the election.