Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-07-31
The Political Mill
Dozen Southern Senators
To Be on Spot in Election
Voters Will Insist on Nominees Takin8
Stand Against Truman
By Gould Lincoln

Almost q dozen Southern Senators are going
to be very much on the spot In the coming
elections. That particular spot is their own
attitude toward the Truman candidacy for
President. None Of them wanted the President
nominated. Most of them worked actively
against him at the recent Democratic National
Convention. And presumably some of them
will fight his election-supporting the States
rights ticket, Gov Thurmond of South Caro-
lima for President and Gov. Wright of Missis-
sppi for Vice President.
All of these Southern Democrats have ale
ready been renominated, which, in their States,
is tantamount to election No Republican has
a chance against Democrat there. So they
are in position to sit on their hands and let
nature take its course.
However, 1t Is extremely likely that the
Southern voters, In view of the intense feeling
which has been aroused against President Tru-
man and his civil rights program win insist
on these senatorial candidates taking a public
stand, for or against President Truman.
Senators Facing Gantlet
The list of Southern Senators who must run
this gauntlet of public opinion includes Senator'S
Eastland of Mississippi, Ellender of Louisiana.
McClelland Of Arkansas, Maybank of South
Carolina, ODaniel of Texas Robertson Of
Virginia, Russell of Georgia, Sparkman Of
Alabama, Stewart of Tennessee, Umstead
of North Carolina and William C. Feazel OF
Louisiana, appointed to fill vacancy last May
in the Senate caused by the death Of the late
Senator Overton.
They have q choice in the presidential elec-
ton between Mr.. Truman and Gov. Thurmond
two Democrats. They are. in this respect.
more happily situated than were Southern
Senators q score Of years ago who had to decide
between Al Smith, then Governor of New York
and the Democratic nominee for President,
and herbert Hoover, the Republican candidate.
Only two Democratic Senators that year came
out against Gov. Smith openly, and fought
him, Senator Simmons of North Carolina and
Senator Tom" Helm Of Alabama.
Both were defeated for denomination to the
Senate when they next came up for reelection.
Their fate held in line various Democratic
Senators from the South for the late President
Franklin d. Roosevelt. in his third and fourth
campaigns for the presidency. These South
erners detested many Of Roosevelt's policies.
and would have liked to see him defeated. But
they could not afford to pass up their party
regularity and hope for political preferment
in the years to come.
It's Different Today.
With the exception of North Carolina, none
Of the States of the South gave any votes IN
the Democratic National Convention to Mr..
Truman for the presidential nomination.
minority OF the Tar Heel States delegation-13
voted for Mr.. Truman All the rest Of the
Southern delegates turned in for Senator Rus
sell Of Georgia, who had 263 votes in his race
against Mr.. Truman.
The present row in the Senate, with Mr.
Truman demanding the enactment of his civil
rights program and the southerners flibuster-
ing against the first Of these bills the anti-pou
tax bill, will emphasize still further the antag-
onsm OF the South to Truman election next
November. Most Of these Southern Senators
would be glad to see Mr.. Truman defeated, even
though it means having Gov Dewey, Re-
publican. in the White House. In the past,
the Democratic high command has called on
Southern Senators to campaign all over the
country for the national ticket.
They had both the time and inclination.
It's different today.