Humphrey Campaigns In Parkersburg
Will Deliver Major Address at VFW Hall Tonight
May 2, 1960
U. S. Senator Hubert H. Humphrey, Democratic presidential candidate, conducted a whirlwind campaign in Parkersburg today and tonight and planned to move on to Huntington for a similar blitz tomorrow.
Scheduled to arrive here at about 10 o'clock, his plane did not arrive until nearly 11 a.m. His already tight schedule was made even tighter and the fast and furious pace of his campaign was made that much swifter.
Senator Humphrey's big meeting here today will be at the VFW Hall on Juliana Street starting at 7 o'clock tonight. A reception will be held there from 7 until 8 o'clock. At 8 o'clock, Senator Humphrey is scheduled to deliver one of his major campaign addresses.
The public is invited to the reception and the rally which follows.
After his arrival here late this morning Senator Humphrey met with local labor leaders at the Labor Temple on 13th Street. A press conference, scheduled for late morning was fitted in just before noon.
Following a tour of downtown streets, Senator Humphrey spoke to a great crowd assembled about the steps to Wood County Courthouse.
This afternoon following a private lunch at the Chancellor Hotel, Senator Humphrey visited the American Viscose Corporation plant here and greeted hundreds of workers at the change of shifts at the plant. Later in the afternoon he went to the Dupont plant at Washington and greeted workers at the plant entrance.
Following his meeting at the VFW hall tonight, the candidate expected to fly to Huntington in a chartered plane. This plan was dependent upon the condition of the weather. The flight was scheduled for 10 p.m.
Senator Humphrey was planning to spend tonight at the Frederick Hotel in Huntington.
Record Breaking Crowd Attends Rally at City Park
"I promise you a Democratic administration which is responsive to the vital needs and hopes of all Americans, an administration which realizes that the strength of America depends on the strength of its people, an administration in the tradition of Franklin D. Roosevelt, U. S. Senator John F. Kennedy, to a crowd of 4,000 or more here Sunday.
Speaking at an ox-roast at the City Park, Kennedy seeking the Democratic party nomination for president, added:
"I promise that there will be restored to West Virginia its share of the American image, the opportunity to achieve a full life under freedom for all its people.
"I assure you that if I receive the majority of votes in the May 10 primary for president, that I will defeat Dick Nixon."
R. P. McDonough, this city, West Virginia campaign manager for Kennedy, who has attended many of the Kennedy rallies during the past several months said he was delighted with the record breaking crowd at yesterday's rally. Mr. McDonough is a candidate to the Democratic national convention from the fourth congressional district.
Sen. Kennedy also spoke at Weirton Sunday night to a gathering of a thousand.
The Democratic senator spoke only briefly here because of a throat infection.
He told the audience that "I'm running for president for the same reason I ran for Senator. I ran for the Senate for the same reason I ran for the House of Representatives. I ran for the House of Representatives for the same reason I entered the Navy.
"I was brought up to have a strong devotion to my country."
His 27-year-old brother, Ted Kennedy, took over the speaking task following the senator's brief remarks. Ted Kennedy told the gathering that Sen. Kennedy got about 10 times as many votes as his opponent Senator Hubert H. Humphrey, in balloting last week in Pennsylvania. This was a write-in vote.
The younger Kennedy said Humphrey "has not the slightest chance of being elected president of the United States." He stressed the importance of West Virginia's primary to the presidential hopes of his brother, stating "the people of West Virginia have an opportunity to name the Democratic nominee."
Accompanying Senator Kennedy, in addition to his brother, was his sister, Mrs. Sargent Shriver of Chicago. Mrs. Kennedy could not attend. She returned to Washington, D. C. Saturday from Charleston, because their daughter, Caroline, three, was running a temperature.
Senator Kennedy was introduced by William Bruce Hoff, Parkersburg lawyer, who was chairman for the ox roast, held at the park band shell. The senator's schedule called for him to leave the park at 4:10 p.m., but a receiving line which followed his and his brother's talks ran for around an hour and a half, and he declined to leave while persons were still coming up to greet him. As it developed, he left at 5:15 p.m.
The Big Red Band of Parkersburg High School provided music for the rally. Seated in the band shell, the band started playing about 2:30 p.m., and continued until 2:45 p.m., when William B. Richardson, master of ceremonies, started introducing Democratic candidates some 15 to 20 in all.
As Senator Kennedy and his party arrived at the park, the band played a fanfare, and as the party walked up to the band shell, the band presented, "Anchors Aweigh," in honor of the senator's service with the U.S. Navy.
Then the Rev. Harley E. Bailey of the Jefferson Baptist Temple gave the invocation, followed by Chairman Hoff's introductory speech. Then the band played "Hail West Virginia," followed by the senator's remarks, and then the talk by his brother.
Senator Kennedy arrived in Parkersburg late Saturday night and yesterday, from noon to 2 p.m., attended a reception at Ravenswood's Community Center. The crowd at Ravenswood was estimated at 500 to 1,000 persons. Senator Kennedy and his brother both spoke, and the senator signed a number of autographs. The senator's speech at Ravenswood, as in Parkersburg, was brief. He appeared outside the building and spoke from the steps after having greeted the crowd inside.
Returning to Parkersburg, he made an appearance at a federal employes pay rally at the Labor Temple on 13th St., and then went on the [sic] the park.
In Weirton Sen. Kennedy said that he believes West Virginians will reject the intervention of Teamsters boss James R. Hoffa in the May 10 Democratic preference primary.
"I think people do not want Jimmy Hoffa to determine who is to be the nominee," Kennedy said. "The Teamsters, through Hoffa, intervened in Wisconsin, and the people of Wisconsin rejected that intervention."
Sen. Kennedy returns to West Virginia tomorrow evening to attend a rally in Welch. On Wednesday he will make up for the cancelled stops at Athens, Hinton, Alderson, Lewisburg, Ronceverte and Lewisburg. That night he will participate in a televised debate with his opponent in Charleston. Thursday's schedule calls for appearances in Charleston, Beckley, a 4:30 p.m. rally in Oak Hill and a mammoth reception at 7:30 p.m. in the Charleston Civic Center. Friday the Senator visits Hurricane, Hamlin, West Hamlin, Salt Rock, Milton, Ona, Barboursville, Huntington, Ceredo and Kenova.
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