Letter from Brooks Hays to Steele Hays - Page 4

Typed letter to Hays' father regarding 1952 reelection campaign and challenges from candidate Amis Robert Guthridge#4 A beginning has already been made. In the South it seems the gradual abandonment of the one-party system, and from the standpoint of our weight in national affairs that is wholesome. I am an advocate of changes in the electoral college system, something like the Gossett-Lodge amendment, and will continue my interest in that reform. I have just had a fine conference with Mike Monroney and we will continue our efforts to strengthen the Civil Service and to add to the safeguards against corruption in the Federal Government. We are also beginning a study of the national election procedures so as to produce some worthwhile amendments to the antiquated Federal corrupt practices law which, like that in Arkansas, does little good. It tends to make hypocrites of all of us. These are just a few of the things that have gone through my mind as a part of the aftermath of the election. Incidentally, I must admit at times I have been confused by the vote comments. Shortly after the primary one of my friends said, “Brooks, if you are ever defeated it will be by someone convincing the people you are not liberal or progressive enough. You lost a lot of votes among the liberal and progressive voters, even this time, because they weren’t sure that you are forthright in your attachment to liberal principles.” Here again is something to ponder. Maybe I am not as progressive as the Fifth District. What do you think? Voting patterns are not easily broken. An old man said to me at Centerville, “Yep, I’m going to vote for you, Brooks. I don’t know why, but I always do and I’ll do it again this year.” One more victory, even one that didn’t give us quite as big a majority as we had hoped for, strengthens that pattern. This letter is too long now, so I’ll close. On one of my trips out in the country when I was making headquarters in Russellville, I wore my father’s panama hat. When I came in Marion said, not knowing that it wasn’t mine, “That hat is too big for you.” If I can keep her saying that, no matter what hat I wear, there is a future for me. Sincerely, Brooks I am sending one of those to Grani [illegible word]. You may want to discuss with him [handwritten postscript]