Evening star., 1944-07-18
Democratic Bloc Seen
Enforcing Harmony

Enforcing Harmony
South Has Lost Minority Power
in Past II Years, Says Writer
By David Laurence
CHICAGO. July 1s.-Delegatss 10 the
Democratic National Convention seem
to b different from those at the Re-.
publican convention. This time they
resemble the Republicans Of the old
days-men Of power and influence In
their communities.
Nearly II years Of Democratic rule has
given the party . tight hold On the
important Federal positions and while,
under existing law, the once holders
cannot participate in the convention
process. they manage, nevertheless, to
select persons to represent them who
are In sympathy with the desires Of the
local Organizations.
The significant thing IL that this con-
vention, despite the rebellion and pro-
tests which come from . minority which
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ton, is . solid bloc behind President
Roosevelt ~ . political leader. II Is
true that many Of the delegates repre-
sent opposition here and there but now
that the vote-gettins contest Is on, the
differences Of the past are forgotten ana
there is unity As against the common
foe-the Republicans.
Full Control Of Party.
1t is interesting to see how Mr.. Roose-
welt has gradually obtained complete
control Of the party. Twelve years ago
he was almost beaten by the two-thirds
rule. He had 4 substantial majority
but after three ballots it looked ~ If
there would be q combination against
him.
II the two-thirds rule prevailed TO-
day, 1t seems probable that Mr.. Roose-
welt might have had considerable op-
position on his fourth term try. Ger
tainly the chairman Of the Democratic
National Committee would not have
ventured to write in advance OF the
convention the kind Of letter he sent
last week to the President reporting
that = majority Of the delegates were
favorable to denomination. Small won
der that Mr.. Roosevelt used his infiu-
ence in 1896 to wipe out the troublesome
two-thirds rule
The Southerners. who didn't have
enough political sense eight years ago
at the Philadelphia convention to see
that their minority veto was being taken
away from them, may protest loudly
about 1t, but they never will get the
two-thirds rule back. 1t takes only a
majority vote to restore or defeat the
rule and that control Of the situation
thus is easily obtainable by the Rooss-
velt forces.
The Southern delegations, recognising
this, have tried in one way or another
to recover their veto power. They may
test 1t out through the plan to divert
electoral votes In the electoral COLLEGE
next time If this convention does not
adopt the platform pledges they want
or restore the two-thirds rule. It re-
mains to be seen whether the courts
would uphold that maneuver II 1t is
tried.
There is no doubt that the split In
the Democratic party while not danger
GUS enough to prevent the President
from controlling the convention, Is,
nevertheless. likely to be 4 factor in
the post-election problems Of the party.
Undoubtedly the coalition between the
Southern members Of Congress and the
Republicans viii tend to grow closer
as consequence Of the cleavage.
Enforced Harmony.
1t may be that the selection Of q
vice presidential nominee satisfactoy to
the South may help to appease the
southsbut this ia something the North
ern Democrats are unwilling to try BE-
cause they may lose the Northern Negro
vote, for instance.
Altogether, viewed effectively. 1t must
be stated that the Roosevelt Leadership
and political maneuvertns has MANAGED
to extricate the Democratic party from
the hold which the conservative South
has held on 1t for decades. II the
Republican party were able to capitalize
on the situation it might make inroads
In the South, but the stand taken on
the Negro vote Issue by the Republicans
Is scarcely different from that Of the
Northern Democrats.
AL in all It looks - II the Southern
faction Of the party u playing . losing
game and In time, because Of their own
neglect Of their political interests, the
prospects are that in ons way or An.
other the Roosevelt influence viii sue
coed in increasing. rather than decfsas-
ing. its vote from the Negro section Of
the electorate even though II, does mean
some disaffection in the South.
The Roosevelt men, Of course, say the
Democrats In the South vote the na.
tional ticket anyway every time no mat
ter who IL nominated, 20 Why should
the Northern Democratic worry about
what the South threatens to do. It's
an unnatural though enforced harmony.
tKeproduetion Rishts Nsssrvsd)
Lively Corpse
Prom the St. Louis Star Times