Evening star., 1944-07-23
Southerners Give Up
Third Party Talk; Will
Support Roosevelt
BY the Associated Press.

CHICAGO, July 22.-Expressine
willingness to forget, temporarily
at least, the factional strife which
brought third party" talk for q
time, Southern Democratic leaders
found comfort today in the defeat
of Vice President Wallace and called
for united front to put the Roose.
velt Truman ticket across ir
November.
Il know there are strong ano
sincere differences of opinion be.
tween Southern people on the ques-
ton of the fourth term" Senator
Eastland of Mississippi said. How.
ever, shall vote for and support
the party nominees"
The views of Senator Eastland
who fought tooth-and- but un.
successfully, for restoration of the
two-t thirds nominating rule and
adoption of a white supremacy
platform plank, conceded generally
with those of other Dixie leaders
who had stood with him in the
losing battle.
There were some, though, who
were still unhappy about the con-
vention proceedings and talked of
forming an organization in the
South to halt New Deal policies
they oppose. They sat around last
night in the rooms of former Gov
Martin Mike" Conner of Missis-
sippi and licked their wounds, but
reached no definite conclusion as to
future moves and strategy.
Need for Organization Seen.
What we shall do about it was
not decided" Mr.. Conner said, "but
there was a general feeling that
the South must organize if it intends
to have its political principles rec
ognized."
Senator Eastland called Mr.. WAL
laces defeat wholesome and bene-
fetal to the South" but reiterated
his steadfast opposition to the
party's racial plank"
Senator Eastland called on Demo-
cratic electors to support the party
nominees and proclaim their inten-
ton to cast their electoral college
ballots for Mr.. Roosevelt and Sena-
tor Truman.
The fight by certain Southern
delegations in my judgment is
largely responsible for the defeat oi
Wallace and the very mild position
of the party in the platform or
the race question when compared
to the Republican stand on this
question:" he added.
Texas Is Big Question Mark.
The big question mark in the
South was Texas, which today cast
first primary ballots in State, coun-
.ty and congressional races.
Roosevelt leaders were seeking in
precinct conventions, which will be
held after today's balloting, to OBJ.
tain control of the State conven-
ton to be held September II in an
effort to pledge the Lone Star
States electors to Mr.. Roosevelt and
Senator Truman. To do that, they
must defeat the so-called "regu-
lars" who at the May convention
chose electors not bound to sup
port the party nominees in No.
vember.
Some pro- Roosevelt members of
the divided Texas delegation to the
national convention said they would
put up Roosevelt Truman slate of
electors If the September conven-
ton fails to bind electors to sup
port the nominees. That, they ex-
planned, would men Mr.. Roosevelt
and Senator Truman would have to
run as third party" in Texas to
capture that States electoral votes.
National party leaders showed
some concern over the Texas situa-
ton. In close national election,
the Texas electoral vote conceiv-
ably could be the deciding factor in
the electoral college and could
swing the result either to Repub-
lican Thomas E. Dewey or throw
it into the House of Representatives,
where Southern members now hold
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