Evening star., 1948-11-11
Purge Of States Fighters
By Leaders Seen Unwise
The Political kiN

49, ~ ~h ~s
By Leaders Seen Unwise
Southern Blocs Could Spike Measures
Planned for Incoming Congress
By Gould Lincoln
Demands for q purge Of southern Demo-
Gratis in high political place who went along
for the Thurmond-wright States Rights
Democratic ticket are coming from several
sources. Flushed with victory, New Deal
Democrats are riding high, wide and handsome
in these postelection days, and some Of them
are inclined to listen. The attack Is directed
particularly against Southern members Of the
Democratic National Committee who refused
to play ball with President Truman In the
recent campaign. But there Is also o sug-
gestion that certain Southern members Of the
House and Senate be given the boot. II the
latter is attempted, the Truman forces may
find themselves with hornets nest on their
hands.
At the bottom of the Truman opposition in
the South was the Presidents antisegregation,
civil rights program. The election of Mr.. Tru-
man does not mean that the antagonism to
this program has changed. Indeed, Mr.. Tru-
man Jared far worse In the election in the
South than any other Democratic presidential
nominee except the late AL Smith Of New York.
1t might, therefore, be 1mprudent for the
Democratic high command to start cracking
down on those Southern members of Con.
gress who supported Messrs. Thurmond and
Wright-two Southern Governors.
Ways to Take 1t Out.
Rumors have It, however, that the ak is
being sharpened up for some of them, an
example being Senator Eastland Of Mississippi.
There are two immediate ways in which the
New Deal Democrats might take it out on
these legislators. They might deny them the
places on Senate and House committees to
which they are entitled under the seniority
rule, and they might take away from them
all rights to political patronage-the right to
have their recommendations for appointment
to Federal ofice considered and approved
How far President Truman would 60 along
with these reprisals Is something else. He
has said that be has no intention of being
vindictive, that there is charity in his heart.
1t may be remembered, however, that Mr.. Tru.
man a couple Of years ago undertook q purge
of Democratic House member from the con.
gressional district adjoining his own in Mis-
souri-forrner Representative Slaughter-be-
cause Mr.. Slaughter had opposed some Of the
Presidents legislative proposals. AS q matter
OF fact, Mr.. Truman did succeed in this purge
effort, and brought about the nomination Of
another Democrat for Mr.. Slaughter's seat
in the House. In the election, however, Mr..
Truman's candidate was defeated by q Re-
publican.
1t would seem to be the height Of unwisdom
for the Democratic high command to UNDER
take any wide purge of Southern Democratic
nf
made on the Southerners-who are clannish,
to say the least-it might wreck number Of
measures which the President Is expected to
include in his legislative program-particularly
those which the more conservative Southerners
would have hard time stomaching anyway.
Leaders Aware Of Blocs.
From the II States Of the so-called Demo-
cratic solid South" there are 20 Democratic
Senators in the new Congress which takes
office January s. From the same States there
are 103 Democratic members of the House. In
the Senate the Democrats will have "a seats
to AZ for the Republicans; in the House the
political division will stand 263 Democrats to
I'll Republicans and l American Labor Party
member. If a considerable bloc Of Southern
Democrats strayed away from the Truman fold
when Truman bills were before the House and
Senate, the program would have hard shedding.
Doubtless the Democratic leadership is fully
aware Of all this Nevertheless, the high COM
mand in the recent past has not hesitated to
try to shove distasteful measures down South
ern throats, and 1t may do so again. And there
is no doubt that the defections from the Tru-
man ranks in the election have created bad
feeling
The tip-otf may come when the President
again recommends to Congress the adoption
Of his civil rights program, and the degree OF
activity with which the President and the DEM
ocratic organization in Congress back up tho
program.
1t is true that many of the Southern Demo.
Gratis in Congress went along with Mr.. Truman
in his campaign for election-even though they
did not openly campaign for him. Some Of
them not only voted for him but did their best
to get funds for the campaign. But it is
equally true that if these same Senators and
Representatives are compelled to face the issue
over the civil rights program they may split
violently with Mr.. Truman. To do otherwise
might mean greater danger to them In coming
elections than any enmity on the part of the
Truman organization