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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, that will bring him into the Eastern Panhandle tomorrow, said "this well-fed complacent Republican administration ignores the terrible hunger now stalking communities in West Virginia and elsewhere."

The Minnesota senator, who is opposing Sen. John Kennedy (D-Mass.) in the May 10 West Virginia primary will arrive in Keyser tomorrow for a political speech at 12:15 (DST) in front of the Court House.

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 made these remarks in a speech at Summersville where he said that Republican leaders should "take off their rose-colored glasses long enough to ask some of the folks compelled to exist on a megaer 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.