Evening star., 1944-06-04
Mississippi May Join
|Anti-Fouhh Term
Forces Wednesday
By ths Associated Press.

/
Democratic leaders will watch
Mississippi next week for a baro-
metric reading on the spread Of a
cotton belt political revolt that has
raised some serious doubts about
the South's solidity in the Novem-
ber presidential election.
] With an antiadministration fac
ton apparently in control. Missis-
sippi's Democrats meet Wednesday
to name a 20-vote delegation to the
national convention. If some leaders
have their way, it will 60 unin-
structed on the fourth term ques-
ltion and bearing white suprem-
acy" banner.
Whether Mississippi will follow
the pattern set by Texas and South
Carolina of leaving open the course
ito be followed by their Democratic
presidential electors was problem
atical.
However, both advocates and op-
lponents of fourth term said there
was little doubt that the convention
would condemn congressional at
tempts to repeal the poll tax.
Talk Of Fight on Wallace.
Some sought to have it inveigh
against the Supreme Court decision
upholding the right Of Negroes to
vote In Texas Democratic primaries
and there was talk even of an at
tempt to put the convention on rec
ord against denomination of Henry
A. Wallace for Vice President.
Politicians here professed inability
to judge whether all of these threats
merely added up to a Southern bluff
to keep Objectionable planks out of
the party platform or whether there
is such deep-seated feeling that a
national convention rebuff might
And some Southern electors support
ing an independent Democrat.
| In no event could these moves pre-
vent the denomination of President
Roosevelt, If he wants fourth term,
since he already has more than suf-
ficient delegates pledged. But they
might present q definite threat to
his reelection.
There apparently is trouble ahead
also in Georgia and Virginia, which
have yet to pick their delegates. In
both States there have been signs
of displeasure with some OF the adj
ministration's policies, particularly
with the establishment of the Presi-
dents Fair Employment Practices
Committee which Southerners have
charged with attempting to break
down racial segregation.
| Indiana Question Mark.
Meanwhile, a political question
mark hung over Indiana as sup
porters of Gov. Thomas e. Dewey
attributed the Republican State
conventions refusal to instruct its
40 delegates in his favor to con-
fusion over parliamentary proce-
dure and opponents called it the
beginning Of stop Dewey" move
ment.
Robert w. Lyons, the States new
addition to the Republican National
Committee, said numerous delegates
had told him after the convention
that they thought they were voting
for the Dewey resolution when In
stead they were voting to table 1t.
The refusal to commit the dele
Cation prior to the Chicago conven-
ton was characterized by follow
ers Of Gov John w. Bricker Of
Ohio. however, as the onset Of
movement against Dewey which
tthey said Was gaining momentum.
Majority Unpledged. Bricker Says.
Gov. Bricker himself said at Hart
ford, Conn, that he has "lots Of
friends In Indiana" He added that
when Indianans blocked an attempt
Of Dewey supporters to pledge the
State 1t indicated people Of the
Mississippi Valley won't be stam-
peded."
"A majority of the delegates at
the national convention will be un-
pledged and undirected," Gov.
Bricker added.
The Republican National Commit
tee announced that the first meet
ing Of the party's Platform Com
mittee, originally scheduled in Chi
cago for June 10, would be delayed
until June 21 to give Senators and
Representatives time to arrive after
a contemplated congressional recess.