POLITICAL NOTES: Shaky Premise, Fervent Prayer

Most Democrats pin their hopes for a presidential victory in November on a premise and a prayer. The premise: labor, hard core of party strength for two decades, will hold firm. The prayer: enough farmers, upset over falling income, will switch to the Democratic candidate to ensure him the White House.

Last week Opinion Pollster George Gallup released soundings on the two assumptions. From coast to coast, union members and farmers were asked to express presidential preference in a trial heat between Stevenson and Eisenhower. For Democrats the labor response was chilling. Between...