Evening star., 1948-07-12
Full Publicity Fanfare
Conjured Up 10 Open
Tardy Pepper Boom
ky q Sioff Correspondent Of The Stor

oClldvO1 1CPPCA VI 4Ol 1Ad Oil
nounced his own boom for thu
Democratic presidential nomina-
ton last night in the deserted
Eisenhower headquarters in Wal
nut street, directly across from
the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel.
All the fanfare that modern pub
licity methods could conjure up wa
brought to bear.
A score of reporters, to whom th'
word had been passed, clustered
ABOUT desk in a vacant store acros
the street from the Bellevue-Strat
ford, where administration leader
were quietly working out plans TO
the nomination of President Truman
on the first ballot.
A small group of Pepper admirer
crowded into the room behind th'
reporters, and in back of them cam'
a battery of neWsreel and still cam
eramen, dragging their klieg light!
with them.
Carries Banner for Liberals.
Before Senator Pepper arrived
Delegate William Ritchie of Ne
braska took the floor to announce
that the Florida Senator had agreed
to carry the banner for the liberal.
who previously had been plugging
for Gen. Eisenhower or Justice
Douglas.
He revealed that the Peppei
candidacy is in the hands OF a com
mittee of seven, chosen from z
larger group of delegates in u
States. In addition to himself, Mr.
Ritchie named them as follows:
Harry Carlson of New Hampshire
William w. Shayne of Florida; Rob-
ert George of Kansas; August
Schoile of Michigan; Joseph De
Silva of California, and Joseph M
Baird of New York.
Mr.. Ritchie said more than lOC
delegates had authorized this small
committee to go forward.
Explains Late Boom.
Explaining the lateness of the
boom. he pointed out that many
delegates were on trains en- route
to Philadelphia when the Eisen-
hover and Douglas movements col
lapsed. In spite of the late begin
nlng. he insisted, Were not offer
ing Pepper as a sacrifice"
I'm certain the nomination OF
Truman will not occur on the first
ballot-if ever" Mr.. Ritchie added
There was a stir in the rear OF
the crowd, and some one shouted
here comes the Senator now!"
Accompanied by his attractive
wife, the Florida Senator pushed
his way up to the desk while his
small but loyal band of followers
shouted and clapped.
Before he could say word, the
Photographic flash bulbs began tc
pop, and Mrs. Pepper leaned over
and kissed her husbands cheek.
MY first words" he began, "are
an expression of deep and profound
gratitude to Mr.. Ritchie and the
committee that recommended
lead this fight. God being my
helper. I'll try to be worthy"
After expressing his regret that
Gen. Eisenhower had declined tc
ruin, Senator Pepper said that since
the generals withdrawal. delegates
have been looking for man who
would follow the principles OF
Franklin D. Roosevelt"
In an obvious appeal to the loyal
adherents of the New Deal, the
Florida Senator went on:
Unfortunately, this is the first
convention in 16 years without the
dominant voice and figure of Frank
lin D. Roosevelt, and there is feel
ing of moral let-doWn-a feeling
that we have forsaken the aims and
ideals of FD.R. they (the delegates)
have seen the money-changers
creep back into the temple
Senator Pepper then proceeded to
outline his position. along lines de.
signed to attract all of the widely
divergent groups he would need to
win.
He began by repudiating Com
munism, and declaring that i ap-
peal for no ism but AmericaniSm.
Il would respect the Constitution
and the dignity of every individual
and try to achieve the first hope OF
all Americans-an honorable peace
On those principles I shall seek the
support of delegates. This is not
gesture. This is fight. l believe
we can make 1t winning fight
Questioned by Reporters.
When he had finished, reporters
began to ply him with questions
and the first query was, how many
votes do you think you will get in
the South?"
Senator Pepper said he does not
know. He admitted that. in his own
Florida delegation, he is only sure
of 6l2 votes, about third of the
delegation.
Il do wish to make it clear he
added, that I'm appealing to the
liberal sentiment in this conven-
ton"
Asked where he stands on the
controversial civil rights issue, which
divides the Northern and Southern
wings of the party. Senator Pepper
repeated his phrase about believing
in the Constitution, and said that
"as President I would try to enforce
it with regard to recognizing the
dignity of every individual"
The significance of this phrase is
that Southern opponents have
questioned the constitutionality of
some of the Federal laws advocated
by Northerners to protect the po-
litical and economic rights of Ne
groes.
Senator Pepper went on to ex-
plain that he believes in civil rights
"in accordance with the Constitu-
ton" but not as political issue
or football to be used in way that
ignores the practical considerations
involved.
Backs States Rights View.
He also indicated he was sympa-
thetic to the States rights view on
control of tidelands-another issue
which appeals to Couthern conser-