Evening star., 1948-07-12

Democrats at a meeting of ps
expressing the hope that Justice
Douglas will make himself avail
able" for the vice presidential spot
| with Mr.. Truman.
Meanwhile the vice presidential
campaigns for Senator O'Mahoney,
Representative Mccormack of Mas
sachusetts, former Senator Jackson
Of Indiana and Gov. Wallgren OF
Washington are being pressed-and
| there is discussion, too, of Repre-
sentative Rayburn of Texas, Sena-
tors Lucas and Tydings and w. Av-
erell Hartman of New York, now
ECA Ambassador to Europe. They
are still waiting here for mod"
from the President. Senator Nc
Grath says graphically that the Pres
ident will be satisfied with whom
ever the convention nominates for
| Vice President.
Other names also mentioned are
Senators Myers of Pennsylvania
and Mcmahon of Connecticut.
A Pennsylvania delegate, John 8.
Rice, even suggested that the party
might turn to Secretary OF State
Marshall to help strengthen the
ticket but it is generally assumed
he would not take the nomination.
Extent Of Southern Revolt Unknown.
The extent OF the Southern re-
volt still remains conundrum.
For two hours yesterday afternoon,
q caucus of Democrats from that
section of the country was held at
the Benjamin Franklin Hotel, with
several hundred persons present
not all of them by any means
delegates or alternates to the con-
vention. But three Southern Gov
ernors, Laney, Thurmond of Florida
and Wright Of Mississippi, played
prominent parts at the conference.
Gov Laney was selected as the
Southerners' anti-Truman candi-
date by committee named at the
meeting. He agreed to run to. point
up the South's demands for States
rights. The selection, made at a
meeting early this morning, was
Subject to formal approval today by
the Southern caucus headed by the
Arkansas Governor himself.
After being selected to lead the
Southern drive against Mr. Tru-
man, Gov. Laney told reporters:
"It appears to be necessary to-
emphasize some of the fundamental
principles of State rights and the
question Of individual liberties. It's
on that basis that I agreed to par
ticipate in this nomination."
Gov. Laney, at 81, is serving his
second two-year term as governor
of Arkansas. For four years in the
late 30's he was mayor of his home
town of Camden, Ark.
Two Resolutions Adopted.
Before that, he told newsmen, he
made living as farmer, oil pro-
ducer, land owner and at various
other business enterprises"
Mrs Laney accompanied the gov
ernor to the convention. They have
three sons, 20, II, and IA years old.
The caucus adopted two resolu-
tons containing proposed planks
which will be submitted to the con-
vention platform committee. The
first was q States Right plank,
which leaves to the states the de-
termination Of poll taxes, legislation
dealing with employment, lynching
and segregation. if any, and denies
the Federal Government the right
to go into such matters. The Sec
ond was a plank which would re-
tain for the States all authority over
submerged oil lands. This was a
bid to get the Texas delegation,
particularly, to 60 along with the
Southern revolt against President
Truman.
The caucus listened to violent
denunciation of the President, who
was charged with having betrayed
the South" with his civil rights
program.
A former Kentucky governor.
Rhodes Myers, proposed to the cau-
Gus that the Southern States get
back of Senator Barkley as presi-
Dental candidate. against Mr. |
Truman.
You can't win against Mr..
Truman without having candi-
date" said Mr.. Myers. Take Bark
ley: so you'll take a man who will
do the job"
The proposal evoked only mild
applause. i
1t is not clear yet just what
course these Southern delegates will
pursue. If they can be pacifled
by giving them the 1914 Democratic
civil rights platform plank. the ad-
ministration forces will do it. pro-
vided they will not ALLEVIATE too
many Northern and Western del
egates. There remains, therefore.
the possibility that some. Of the
Southerners will take a walk"
Mr.. Roosevelt wandered into the
Southern Democratic caucus, the
guests, he said. of Senator Johnston
of South Carolina. He sat through
out the proceedings in the rear of
the hall with Senator Johnston.
The Pepper candidacy failed to
win his own States 20 votes but he
estimated he would get 6la Of them
liz poll were taken.
Richie Runs Into Trouble.
william Ritchie, Nebraska State
Democratic chairman who also has
been critical of Mr.. Truman,
,-,tS I-sr