Evening star., 1948-04-04
Ditch Truman
Farley Called
In Midwest
Democrats From 10
States to Hear PIon
To Switch to Douglas
By Gould Lincoln
Ssor Stof Correspondent

AVA \ ~ w "a ~ II - TplA
Democratic leaders from 10 Mid
west States have been called to
attend conference in Des
Moines, Iowa, next Sunday to
discuss ditching President Tru-
man as the party's nominee to
succeed himself.
News Of the coming conference
leaked out here today. The report
was verified by State Senator Robert
E. Tehan, Democratic national
committeeman for Wisconsin. Mr..
Tehan refused to comment on the
drop Truman movement.
1t was learned, however, that
there will be proposal at the con-
ference to substitute Justice Douglas
of the Supreme Court for Mr.. Tru-
man as the party's nominee.
The supporters of this plan say
frankly they have no hope of per-
suading Gen. Eisenhower to accept
Democratic nomination for presi-
dent.
10 States Represented.
The States represented at the Des
Moines conference will be Wiscon-
sin, Michigan, Minnesota, North and
South Dakota, Colorado, Montana,
Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska.
Although Illinois is not included,
Col. Jacob Arvey, who has taken
over the leadership of the Demo-
cratic organization in Chicago in
place of former Mayor Ed Kelly. al
ready has declared himself in favor
of dropping President Truman as
the party nominee and substituting
Gen. Eisenhower. Col. Arvey has
said that he feared for the whole
Democratic slate in Cook County If
Mr.. Truman heads the ticket next
November.
The Des Moines conference has
been called by Jake More, former
Iowa Democratic national commit
teeman and still Democratic leader
In the State.
Formed In 1910 Revolt"
The Midwestern Democratic Con-
ference had its inception In 1910,
as a part of a revolt over Demo-
cratic patronage. It was not called
together again until last December.
when in Omaha the discussion
ranged around the formation of
Western bloc to counteract the
solid South as an influence in the
Democratic National Convention.
At that time the conference unan-
imously Endorsed President Truman
for nomination to succeed himself.
Then" Wisconsin leader re-
called, "the Truman goose was
hanging high: it is different now"
The Wisconsin Democrats, 1t was
said. have decided to press for
Justice Douglas if the conference
in Des Moines comes to the con-
clusion that switch in the presi-
Dental nomination can and should
be made.
1t was pointed out that, at the
time of the 1914 convention, the
late President Roosevelt in his
famous letter to the then Chair
man Hannegan of the Democratic
National Committee designated JUS
tice Douglas along with Mr.. Tru-
man as satisfactory for the vice
presidential nomination.
Mr.. Hannegan saw to 1t that the
Douglas name was not brought for
ward Wisconsin Democrat said
today.
Reasons for Backing Douglas.
He added, that there are several
good reasons for presenting Justice
Douglas for the Presidential nomi-
nation now. First, Justice Douglas
would pull back into the Democratic
Party much of the support which
now threatens to 60 to Henry Wal
lace and his third party.
Justice Douglas, he said, would
appeal particularly to the Roose-
welt New Dealers, to labor and to
racial groups who in many instances
are lining up with Mr.. Wallace. He
even suggested that Henry Wallace
might take himself out of the race,
If President Truman were out Of the
picture. He admitted this was a
remote possibility, since the third
party movement has gone so far,
and since some of the Wallace back
ers would do all in their power to
keep him from withdrawing.
This Democrat was asked, If he
believed it would be possible to
placate the South should Justice
Douglas take the same position on
civil rights as Mr.. Truman.
President Roosevelt" he replied,
favored the civil rights program.
The Democratic Party in its plat
form went on record in favor OF
civil rights four years ago. Truman