Evening star., 1944-07-15
Politics
Continued From First Page. y

able for any lightning that might
strike heightened hourly.
Among the latest whose names
came to the front were four Sem
ators: Chandler of Kentucky, Pepper
Of Florida, OMahoney of Wyoming
and Thomas of Utah.
These. along with Gov. Robert S
Kerr of Oklahoma, Senator Barkley
of Kentucky. Supreme Court Justice
William O. Douglas. War Mobiliza-
tion Director James F. Byrnes, SEN
ator Lucas of Illinois and Repre-
sentative Mary Norton of New Jer-
sey, were listed in preconvention
gossip as in receptive frame of
mind
Autographed brochures were in
circulation urging the availability
of Gov Joseph M. Broughton of
North Carolina. A breakfast was
planned for him on the convention S
opening day and former Gov. o.
Max Gardner of North Carolina was
designated as his campaign man
ager.
Like Gov. John w. Bricker of
Ohio, who ran for first and got sec
ond place on the Republican ticket
Gov. Broughton was about the only
openly avowed candidate for Vice
President Even Mr.. Wallace has
not said publicly that his hat is in
the ring.
In another quarter quiet move
was reported under way to bring the
name of Senator Byrd of Virginia
consistent critic of the administra-
ton, before the convention as vice
presidential candidate.
Senator Byrd has expressed oppo-
sition to any such move and also
has declared he is not a candidate
for the presidential nomination, de-
spite the backing of four Florida
delegates. The Florida delegation
will caucus Monday to determine
whether to apply two-thirds rule
for unit voting, with indications the
Byrd delegates may be left free to
vote as they please.
With the pack apparently in full
cry at his heels, Mr. Wallace was
not without his supporters. Senator
Pepper, whose Florida colleagues are
prepared to plump for him if the
opportunity arises. said he would
vote for Mr.. Wallace Senator
Guffey, who will have influence with
Pennsylvania "a vote delegation,
reiterated here his intention to back
the present Vice President.
y>rncroctiua kott1o o,or %ho
vice presidency, scheduled to reach
the balloting stage next Friday,
overshadowed preliminary work on
the platform. A subcommittee ar
ranged to meet today, amid predic-
tlons that the party declarations
would stand largely on the Roosevelt
record, point forcefully to interna-
tional peace cooperation and hedge
on the racial equality question that
has been plaguing the South-all
within a projected 1000 words.
Faces Racial Issue.
While the recommended platform
might conceivably duck the racial
question, the convention itself faced
the necessity of dealing with its re-
suit in seating one of two contesting
delegations each from Texas and
South Carolina. 1t also had to
smooth over. If it can, Mississippi
situation where electors would be
freed from voting for the party NOM
lnee if certain conditions are not
met
The general opinion was that
Texas would serve as test" case,
with the regular delegation being
seated 1t was chosen by a con-
vention which voted to permit the
electors it selected to bolt if the
party platform declared for racial
equality and if other stipulations
were not fulfilled.
In this instance. the attitude of
administration leaders seemed to
be to let nature take its course.
trusting that President Roosevelt
would carry Texas and other South
ern States and that the electors
would not then vote for another.
Pepper Has Own Platform.
Senator Pepper, carrying around
a 400-word proposed platform of
his own making, said: I'VE want a
short platform and one that says
what we mean. We will not write
platform like the Republicans did,
that will permit us to 60 either
way. Our obligation is to chart the
country's course through victory to
permanent peace.
I'VE must make it clear this time
that we will join up with our Allies
after this war and not repudiate
our Allies or betray the dead as
we did after the other war
Mrs, Norton urged platform of
500 to 1000 words and a foreign
policy plank "as strong as possible"
Representative D'Alesandro rec
commended 500 words or less. with
the stress on foreign policy and
sovereignty Of the States in domestic
issues"
One sentence, saying the Demo-
Gratis stand on their l1-year record,
should suffice for domestic policy,
he said.
He forecast a party declaration Of
principles minus any mention on
the racial question which Southern
groups say they want to avoid
Il think the platform is Roose-
velt," he asserted.
Roosevelt has got to win or fall
on his record, the same as q Con-
gresham wins or falls on his"