Evening star., 1944-07-19
Texas Delegation 5
Dispute Leans Toward
Uninstructed Faction
BY the Associated Press.

OOsON SSuuVBe
BY the Associated Press.
CHICAGO. July l9.-Texas' con-
testing delegations high lighted the
political skirmishing here as the
Democratic Convention prepared to
convene today.
The question as to which delega-
tion would be of1cially seated was
still to be settled, even though the
regular" uninstructed group
seemed the likely winners.
The pro- Roosevelt. so called
trump convention" delegation, was
ready to argue its case not only be-
fore the Credentials Committee, but,
II rules permit, even before the con-
vention itself.
The decision on the ro-ROOsevelt
group to continue their fight for the
right to cast the States 48 votes for
President and Vice President was
reached last night few hours after
they arrived in the city. They
shouted down a proposal that, in
the interest Of party harmony, the
opposition to the seating of the
regulars be dropped.
Before Credentials Committee.
The Democratic National Com
mittee already has placed the reg
ular" delegations on the conven-
tion's temporary roll. and the issue
now is due for a hearing before the
Credentials Committee that will be
appointed shortly after the opening
Of the convention.
While the -Roosevelters were
making their decision, the ''regu-
lars" in an equally boisterous ses-
sion, were shouting their support
for Senator Byrd of Virginia as the
party's presidential nominee.
Excitement ran high as Delegate
Charlie c. Gibson of Amarillo
rushed to the front of the crowded
caucus room, shook his finger at
the chairman, former Gov. Dan
Moody, and charged that the meet
ing was nothing but Republican
reputation convention"
Mr.. Gibson declared that the 18th
congressional district would go Dem
ocratic, regardless of what the other
districts did. and called Senator
Byrd 'one of the biggest Repubh-
cans in the country
At the rump convention delegates
caucus, Mayor Tom Miller of Austin,
a pro-Roosevelt delegate, declared
that high sources" among admin
istration leaders in Washington had
expressed conviction that the smart
thing to do would be to seat the
anti-fourth termerS.
Compromise Talk Futile.
Talk of compromise got no ap-
proval from the bulk of the dele
gates. Currie McCrutcheon of
Dallas declared that any compromise
would be reputation of the State
"rump" convention which selected
them delegates. Referring to the
Contesting delegation, he added:
Since when can they tell us by
whisperings what we can do? We
ought to fight with the knife, and
the knife to the hilt'
Herman Jones. young Austin at
torney. who presided over the cau-
Gus, declared many administration
leaders feel the party would profit
more by seating the antifourth-term
group than by letting them return
to Texas with a complaint they had
been unjustly treated
The regular" delegation post
poned until tonight a vote on it's
candidate for Vice President. The
last-minute withdrawal of Speaker
Rayburn left the State without a
favorite son candidate.
There was no indication at the
caucus who would get the majority
support for the second-place nomi-
nation. but it was evident that they
would not give any support to Vice
President Wallace.
A bitter fight involving Senators
Connallv and ODaniel, Secretary of
Commerce Jones and Speaker Ray
burn followed the decision of the
regular delegation to oppose renom-
ination of Mr. Roosevelt
DOwned by Voice Vote.
Though Mr. Moody offered a mo-
tion to make Senator Connally, Mr..
Jones and Mr. Rayburn honorary
members of the regular Texas dele
CATION and vigorously spoke on be-
half of his proposal, the delegation
turned the proposal down on voice
vote.
While the delegation refused to
adopt a motion which would have
removed Mr. Rayburn from the
slate of three honorary delegates
because he is being opposed for
reelection TO the House and We
should not help his candidacy it
later adopted motion offered
tabling the original Moody motion
This killed any chance of the three
men being named delegates.
Discussion of the Moody proposal
aroused a bitter dispute over an in
dorsement of Senator Connally
without equivalent support of
Senator ODaniel, bitter anti
fourth-termer Following a hectic
argument. however, the delegation
booed down a motion that if the