Evening star., 1948-10-09
The Political Mill
Porter Gaining Support
Among Texas Democrats
G. O. P. Nominee for Senate Aided
BY Johnson.Stevenson Row
Bv Gould Lincoln

HOUSTON, Tex, Oct. 9-Electing q Re.
publican Senator from Texas-or even having
a Republican candidate for the Senate make
respectable showing in the election-a month
or two ago would have seemed merely q fan.
tastic dream. Here in Houston today Demo.
Gratis are talking seriously about the prospects
OF Jack Porter, the Republican nominee for
the Senate against Representative Lyndon B.
johnson, Democrat. It all grows out Of the
bitter row among the Democrats over the
Johnson Stevenson contest for the Democratic
nomination
Mr.. Porter, an independent oil producer Of
considerable wealth. was q Democrat until
1910 when he jumped the party because of
the presidential third term issue. The fact
he is still thought Of as Democrat of the old
school makes him all the more formidable.
There seems to be no doubt he will not only
get the Republican vote but that he will get
support from many of the Dixiecrat Demo-
Gratis and from the followers of Stevenson
who feel that their candidate, former Gov.
Coke Stevenson, was cheated out of the nonli.
nation. If he does, Mr.. Porter may turn out
to be formidable candidate.
States Fighters for Porter.
States rights Democrats say quite frankly
they intend to vote for Mr.. Porter for the
Senate and for Gov Thurmond of South Caro-.
lima for President. One of them told me: IF
the Republicans are wise and they wish to keep
the electoral vote Of Texas away from President
Truman and to elect another Republican Sen.
ator, they will 60 along with us"
straw in the wind was the recent an.
nouncement of Mrs. Edna Shepherd, chairman
of the board Of the Harris County (Houstonl
Democratic Women that she was resigning her
nl,o ~;
Il have been Democrat all my life," said Mrs.
Shepherd in her letter of resignation, but
do not believe in the things the New Deal Party
is now trying to force on true Southern Demo-
Gratis. Jack Porter represents the type OF
Democracy believe in and have advocated all
my life"
Republican doctrine, with Southern drawl.
is preached all over the State by Mr.. Porter.
1t is Democratic doctrine, too, as a good many
Texans see it. Mr.. Porter however, announces
his opposition to the civil rights program of both
the Democratic and Republican Parties. He Ia
strong for State ownership of the tidelands,
with their valuable oil deposits, which has
been challenged by the Supreme Court decision
in the California case. Royalties and leases,
sold by Texas, in these tidelands have netted
the public schools of Texas $34,000,000 Mr..
Porter concludes speech: when you vote for
Jack Porter, you will be voting to protect the
tidelands that are the birthright OF your chill
dren.'
johnson Faces Seat Fight.
The Johnson Stevenson fight for the Demo-
cratic senatorial nomination was won in tho
run-of primary by Mr.. johnson with lead
of 81 votes. Demands for recount and charges
Of fraud by the Stevenson people got exactly
nowhere-and Stevenson's name will not be ON
the ballot If Mr.. johnson wins the general
election, it's foregone conclusion that a stiff
fight will be made to prevent him from taking
his seat in the Senate which is the final judge.
One of the arguments used for Mr. Porter is
that Mr.. johnson would never be seated after
the primary vote had been thoroughly investi-
gated by Senate committee.
Gross irregularities, 1t has been charged,
took place in Duval and Jim Wells Counties.
In the former home of George Parr, Demo-
cratic boss and known as Duke of Duval,"
the count, as turned in, stood 1922 to 40, with
Mr.. johnson on the winning side In the first
primary Mr.. Stevenson had about 500 votes in
this county. The population is largely Of
Mexican blood, and Mr.. Parr, it Is claimed.
runs the machine as he pleases. Like the
notorious Tom" Pendergast of Kansas City,
the law finally caught up with Mr.. Parr on an
income tax case and he was convicted and
did time in 1861. Mr. johnson, too, charged
there was illegal voting on the Stevenson side.