Evening star., 1945-10-12
Southern Democrats
Warned by Mead
To Back Reforms
BY GOULD LINCOLN.


Senator Mead, Democrat, of New
York read the riot act to the South
ern Democratic Senators at par
ty caucus yesterday, warning that
II they did not mend their ways
and support poll tax and fair en-
ployment practices legislation and
measures advocated by organized Ia
bor the party could not expect to
carry New York and other great in
dustrial States in next years eIec-
tions.
Although Senator Mead did not
speak directly of the appointment
of Raymond S. McKeough, who has
been employed during the last year
by the CIO Political Action Com
mittee to be member of the Mari
time Commission, it was noted that
when the Senate voted, AZ to "a, to
vote of the Southern Democrats
was split, with more of them sup
porting confirmation than oppos-
ing it.
The victory of Mr.. McKeough, re-
garded as a triumph for the CIO
over the AFL, which opposed the
appointment, also was due in part
to the strong pressure Democratic
National Chairman Robert E. Han
negan exerted on members of the
Senate.
Hannegan Pressed Case.
Mr.. Hannegan personally called
most of the Democratic Senators to
urge their support OF the McKeough
nomination, both from the point
OF view that President Truman's S
hand should be upheld and that
in view of the work done by the
PAC for Democratic candidates in
the 1914 election, it was no time to
slap the organization in the face.
Senator Mead in the Democratic
caucus painted gloomy picture
Of the New York situation. He indi-
Gated that he would have little
chance OF carrying the State when
he comes up for reelection unless
the Democrats-particularly those
from the Southern and border
States-mended their ways.
He did not say whether he planned
to run for reelection to the Senate
or for Governor. There have been
indications. however. that he may
seek the Democratic nomination for
Governor and try to defeat Thomas
F.. Dewey. the expected nominee of
the Republican party.
Southerners React Angrily.
The reaction of many of the
Southern Democrats, as reported
today, was one of anger rather than
acquiesence. AS one member OF the
caucus said: They (Mr. Mead and
other Northern Democrats) want us
to relinquish all our convictions in
order that they may carry New York
State. The South has been the only
/ section of the country that has re-
mained consistently Democratic
Senator Mead's diatribe came In
connection with the election of Eel
ton M. Johnston of Mississippi to be
secretary to the majority of the
Senate, which was the business be-
fore the caucus. He opposed the
selection Of Mr.. Johnston and point
ed out that most of the important
chairmanships of Senate committees
are held by Southern Democrats,
that the President pro tempore of
the Senate, Senator McKellar of
Tennessee. is a Southerner, and that
the Majority Leader. Senator Bark
ley, is from Kentucky.
1t Is time to turn over a new leaf.
Senator Mead told his colleagues,
adding that Senate Democrats
should give consideration to Dem
ocrats from other parts of the coun-
/ try, and get in line for legislation
supported by the Negro voters and
by organized labor.
| In this connection, 1t Is pointed
out that the labor legislation spon-
sored in his message to Congress by
President Truman, including the
$25-a-week unemployment benefit
payments, the full employment bill,
and the 65-cent minimum wage bill
all are having hard shedding, due in
part to the opposition of Southern
Democrats in both Senate and
| House.
The Truman administration, 1t
appears, is not unmindful of the
organized labors irritation over the
/ -