Evening star., 1948-05-19

the light Of the 1948 election. It is q fact
that the Communists are backing Henry A.
Wallace and that they have quite large
number of voters in New York State who will
vote for Mr.. Wallace.
Possibilities in Balance Of Power.
1t may be that the Republican candidate
will run so far ahead Of the Democratic candi-
date that the Wallace vote will make no dif-
ference in that State. But 1t also mag be that
the Republican will run so little ahead Of the
Democrat that the Wallace third party vote
will be the factor that gives New York's 47
electoral votes to the Republican. And, further
1t may be that the popular vote Is so close
that the Communist vote alone among the
third party voters will be the margin by
which the State goes Republican.
And of course, New York may be the mar
gin by which the Nation goes Republican.
This business Of the minority vote in key
States-Communist or any other types best
described in the House committee report:
1.-THE electoral college system places un-
reasonable and unconscionable burdens and
temptations upon presidential candidate and
upon President elected by 1t. Political ex-
pediency, If not political necessity, compels q
presidential candidate to WOO and often to
kowtow to the organized minority votes in the
big pivotal States
"These votes are often, in effect, up for
sale to the highest bidder, an overweening
temptation for political corruption. The po-
litical strategists in his party are constantly
urging President to extend undue favors and
consideration to these politically potent groups
to whom he probably owes his election. No
President should be subjected to such pressure
or to such temptation. The proposed amend
ment would obviate this evil"
Those are the words of the House committee
report unanimously approved by both Re-
publicans and Democrats.
A Bid for Minority Votes?
Mr. Gossett gets down to the point the
committee makes by looking at the 1914
political platforms. He notes that both parties
wrote in fair employment practices planks
which, as Texan, he deplores He adds that
the platform makers "of both parties will tell
you frankly, off the record, that this was done
as bid for the Negro vote"
A second minority group, which both parties
wooed, he says, was 'the radical labor wing Of
organized labor" He says both parties pussy
footed the labor question because Of organized
labor's power through the electoral college"
Finally, he makes the point that both parties
appealed to the Jewish vote in New York by
OF Congress will agree that the cratic Amer
lean policy on this issue stems from rival
political maneuvers designed more to catch
votes than to solve the problem itself
Remove the overbalanced power of all minor
ity groups, the Lodge -Gossett amendment back
ers say, and we will be rid of the pressure to
knuckle under to any minority. We will, In
effect, be a more democratic Nation in the
conduct of our Government.
The House report sums up the problem in
these well-chosen words:
"The greatest and most important office in
the world is that of the President Of the
United States The method through which we
elect President should be fair, honest, ac-
curate, certain and democratic.
"Our present system is not fair honest, ac-
curate, certain or democratic. The proposed
amendment would substantially meet the test
of fairness, honesty, accuracy, certainty and
democracy"