Evening star., 1944-07-19
Douglas
|ReporiedGiiven
Roosevelt OK.
Senator No. z Choice
As Byrnes Withdrows
At Presidents S Wish
BY GOULD LINCOLN,
Star Staff Corresponder,.

BY GOULD LINCOLN,
Star Staff CORRESPONDENT.
CHICAGO, July 10. President
Roosevelt was reported today to
have informed Democratic Ma
tional Chairman Robert T.. Han
negan that Senator Truman of
Missouri and Associate Justice
Douglas Of the Supreme Court
are his second and third choices
for the party's vice presidential
nomination.
Word OF the Presidents alterna.
tive choices-he previously had In
dorsed Vice President Wallace n
his. No. -climaxed d
series Of fast-breaking develop
ments which saw War Mobilization
Director Byrnes Withdrawing from
the race for second place 'in defer.
ence to the wishes OF the Presi.
dent,
Mr.. Byrnes' withdrawal was an
nounced shortly before the conven.
ton opened at los pm, Eastern
war time.
After organizing and arranging
to convene tonight to hear the key
note address by Gov. Robert 8.
Kerr Of Oklahoma, the first session
Of the convention adjourned.
Senator Trumans stock skyrock.
eted as a result of today's de.
velopments. A loyal adninistra.
ton man, he already had strong
support among the delegates, and
Mr.. Byrnes' withdrawal was viewed
as giving fresh impetus to the boom
for the Missouri Senator, although
supporters of Mr.. Wallace also
claimed the move would aid their
campaign.
Letter Written to Hannegan.
1t was learned that Mr.. Roosevelt
had written a letter to Mr.. Han.
negan saying that, in his opinion,
either Senator Truman or Justice
Douglas would add strength to the
Democratic ticket.
This is the first time that Justice
Douglas name has come promi.
nently into the vice presidential
picture. His political background
is not known generally throughout
the country, however, and Observers
believed the convention would turn
to Senator Truman, who has gained
national prominence through his
work as chairman of the Senate
War Investigating Committee.
There has been little apparent
activity for Justice Douglas and his
friends have said he probably would
be reluctant to accept q second
place nomination.
Senator Truman, who came to
Chicago saying he was not a. can
didate, conferred with Mr.. Byrnes
during the morning and later told
reporter he had not changed his
stand and did not want the nomi-
nation.
Wallace Seen 4at Disadvantage.
The designation Of Senator Tru.
man and Justice Douglas as the
Presidents second and third choices
was regarded by most delegates AZ
putting Mr.. Wallace at a disad.
vantage, since it likely would con.
centrate the opposition to him.
Nevertheless, Mr.. Wallace de.
clared on his arrival here today
that he had no intention of getting
out of the race and denied reports
that he might withdraw.
Informed of Mr.. Byrnes' with
drawal, the Vice President COM
mented: We'll, that takes care Of
that"
Mr.. Byrnss' unexpected Withdraw
al was announced in a letter he
wrote to Senator Maybank of South
Carolina asking that his name not
be placed before the convention.
1t is known that various pressure
groups, including the National Citi.
zens Political Action Committee.
have been working to prevent q
Byrnes nomination.
In addition, Edward J. Flynn. New
York national committeeman and
boss Of the Bronx, had expressed
strong opposition to Mr.. Byrnes
because he feared his nomination
would lose many Negro votes in the
North.
Text Of Byrnes' Letter.
|. Mr.. Byrnes' letter to Mr.. Maybank
said:
In Difference to the wishes of the
President, I ask that my name not
be placed before the convention As .
candidate for the Democratic nomi.
nation for Vice President.
The action of the (South Caro-
lina) delegation in declaring Its SUP.
port OF me for this honor and in
insisting that my name 90 before the
convention Is deeply appreciated by
me
Jake More. Iowa State Democratic
chairman, said Mr.. Byrnes' an.
nouncement and other devevlop.
ments coming throughout the day
Will clinch denomination for Mr.,
Wallace"
Opposition vste May Total l5e.
The one sure thing about this
convention Is the denomination OF
the President The great majority
Of the delegates are on record for
or pledged to vote for Mr.. Roosevelt.
Eight days ago Mr.. Roosevelt m.
nounced he would accept
There remains only to learn the
size OF the opposition vote TO 4
fourth-term nomination. when the
roll Of States Is called on the presi-
dency. 1t may run as low a. 100 or
- high as 80. anti-fourth termers
estimated today. These votes viii
be cast for Senator Byrd Of Virginia,
Tor James A. Farley OF New York
and perhaps for other Democrats.
They viii constitute Q "prOoests
vote-with no hope Of defeatin9 N
Roosevelt steamroller. The pfetont
nay not Be ~ wide - q door O. a.
dep - . we'll. ~ measured hy ehooa
ansa-vetes cut q = total deleeats