Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1944-06-12
POLITICAL
PARADE
BY George
RothweIl Brown

INlE hiOAS HiS A'N"
l. study the device invented
by the smart, conservative wi
of the Democratic Party "
Texas, for enabling the South
il necessary-to vote against
Roosevelt and a. fourth term.
without voting the Republican
ticket, the less they like II.
Two more southern common
wealths, in which feeling
against the left wing is running
high, are by reason of their
election laws in a position to
emulate the example Of the
Lone Star state.
What happened at Austin is
that the Roosevelt wing of the
party bolted the state conven-
ton, and the regular wing then
selected an uninstructed delega-
ton to the Chicago convention.
and named a slate Of % presi-
dental electors instructed to
vote against the nominee Of
that party unless certain condi-
tons are met.
This shrewdly devised and
legally carried-out plan was
possible only cause under
Texas law the names of candi-
dates for president and vice
president are not printed on the
ballot.
Only the names OF the cleo
tors are printed. and for these
the people cast their ballots.
THUS il will be possible for
l. the electors named by the
regular party convention in
Texas to vote for some DEMO-
Graf of their choice, other
than Mr.. Roosevelt
AS previously stated here, the
Democrat in mind is Sen. Harry
F. Byrd of Virginia.
If the Texas electors should
cast their % ballots for him,
there is no reason 10 believe he
would take any step whateA
TO discourage or repudiate sd
action.
Now. Virginia also probably
will send 10 the national con-
vention an uninstructed delega-
ton which will be controlled by
Senator Byrd.
But a belated movement has
been launched in Virgini
headed by Rixey Smith, secre-
tary TO the venerable Senator
Carter Glass, 10 select a slate Of
delegates PLEDGED TO THE
RECONCILIATION OF PRESI-
DENT ROOSEVELT.
Smith hardly would have
done this without the approval
of Senator Glass. so that here
is indicated a possible split in
the democratic organization OF
Virginia, heretofore dominated
by Glass and Byrd. and more
largely by the junior senator
since the long disability, from
illness and age. Of Senator
Glass.
/ PUT even II the southern re-
- volt against the New Deal
should spread 10 Virginia. that
state could not follow the
example Of Texas. for the rea-
son that Under Virginia law the
names OF the candidates for
President and vice president
/ DO APPEAR on the ballot
But in Mississippi and South
Carolina the laws are similar TO
that of Texas. The voters vote
for electors. and not for candi-
dates. whose names DO NOT
APPEAR on the ballot.
Every effort is now being
made 10 prevent Mississippi
from following the example OF
Texas at the state convention on
June Z, and selecting electors
instructed 10 VOTE AGAINST
the nominee Of the ChicsA
convention, in the event II
New Deal policies deemed IL
| furious TO the South and SOUTH
ern tradition are endorsed in
the Democratic national plat
form
In South Carolina selection Of
the presidential electors has
been postponed until after the
Democratic national convention.
For example. any inclusion of
demand for the repeal of the
poll tax laws-aS insisted upon
by the dominant Congress of In
dustrial Organizations, which so
largely has taken over the
northern wing of the Demo-
cratic party, might cause Mis-
sissippi to follow the lead Of
Texas.
In a close election, Mississippi,
Texas and South Carolina could
defeat the President by throw
ing the election into the House
Of Representatives.
- Fighting sth Is Coming -
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