Evening star., 1948-09-12
Democrats Threaten
Suit Against Barring
Truman in Louisiana
BY the Assoeioisd Press

Ullttet CdllcQ Ot1 LOulSidlld FOIeTS
last night to overturn the "fiagrantly
dishonest and fraudulent" barring
of President Truman's name from
the States ballot.
In hotly worded statement
threatening possible court action
William j. Primm, jr., assistant to
National Chairman j. Howard Nc
Grath, challenged action of the
States Democratic Committee in
substituting the States Rights ticket
for the Truman Barkley combina-
ton.
Mr.. Primm said this high handed
and arbitrary act" had deprived the
people of Louisiana of free ballot,
adding:
This action cannot be tolerated
and will not be tolerated by the
people of Louisiana"
Charges Fraud On People.
Mr.. Primm noted that States
Rights Party supporters had quail
fled under Louisiana law as a sep
arate party, choosing 10 electors for
Gov. j. Strom Thurmond of South
Carolina and Gov. Fielding Wright
of Mississippi, their nominees.
! He said the State Democratic Com
mittee by its action in approving
this slate had committed a fraud
on their own people"
The Dixiecrats have every right
to form new party" he declared,
but the tactics they are employing
in taking over the Democratic Party
machinery in certain States and
thereby depriving the people of those
States of a free ballot Is intolerable.
Such methods are fiagrantly dis
honest and fraudulent"
Mr.. Primm promised that every
legal means at the command of the
! National Committee will be used
to get Mr.. Truman back on the
ballot in Louisiana.
/ He topped this threat of court
action with another call for Demo-
cratic Committee officials who are
supporting the States Rights ticket
to resign their party posts. 5,
Has Right to Expel.
Mr.. Primm said this would apply
to william H. Talbot of New
Orleans, Democratic national COM
mitteeman and member of the
Louisiana State party's executive
committee.
Mr.. Primm said such action had
been taken in 1896 by the National
Committee. He would not forecast
a similar move by the present COM
mittee.
The States Fighters, meanwhile
came up with new wrinkle in
Georgia.
They predicted the State Demo-
cratic Committee there will name Il
unpledged electors, whose names
will appear under Mr.. Truman's on
, the ballot.
But the catch would be that the
electors would vote for Mr.. Truman
only If his defeat otherwise was as
sured. II Gov. Thurmond needed
their vote, it would be the under
standing he could have it.
IS Pledged to Thurmond.
Already pledged to Gov. Thur
mond for President were II electors
from Alabama, nine from MissiS-
sippi, eight from South Carolina
four out Of eight from Florida and
three out of II from Tennessee.
A court action in North Carolina
finally was won by the States Rights
Party. Originally denied place on
the November ballot by the board
of elections, the party appealed to
the State Supreme Court.
The court rejected the boards
position that the States Fighters
had not complied with laws govern
ing the creation Of new parties and
awarded them equal billing with the
regular Democrats.
The Thurmond- Wright ticket will
appear also on the ballots OF Vlr-
ginia, Kentucky and Texas. Arkan-
sas States Fighters have until Oc-
tober 13 to name electors.
Maryland Move Started.
Thurmond supporters were busy
as we'll, in the border State OF Mary
land where they started a petition
! to get his name on the ballot. Only
1000 names are needed but Ordl-
narily they must be filed with the
J Secretary of State in the spring be-
fore the general election.