Evening star., 1948-08-14


in his home State Of Missouri next
November.
The New Party's headquarters
was informed it can't qualify its
presidential ticket for the ballot by
the August % deadline.
Making this known today, w. Aus.
tin Seay of Winona, Miss, director
of the Anti-Truman groups Wash
ington headquarters, told a reporter,
however, that States Fighters are
checking up ballot possibilities in
other States.
The group is investigating ballot
laws in Kentucky, Colorado and
elsewhere, Mr.. Seay said.
The Missouri situation was out
lined to Mr.. Seay in a message from
national headquarters in jackson,
Miss, he reported.
Must Have 22,00o Signatures.
The message said that Missouri
law provides that new party, to
get on the ballot, must have $4,000
notarized signatures by August %,
or hold a State convention truly
representative of the whole State at
which electors would have to be
named from each congressional dis
trict and two at large.
The message went on to say it is
regretted that the New Party could
not qualify in Mr.. Truman's State
"as indications are that Missouri
will not go far for him and does not
want to 60 to Dewey. A lot OF
voters will stay at home in Missouri
on election day."
A drive to raise funds and to OBJ
tain at least 100 electoral votes for
the Thurmond-W Wright ticket in No
vember was outlined here yesterday
at the opening OF the States Rights
Democratic Party office in the May
flower Hotel.
Reports Don't Jibe.
Optimism over the effectiveness
of the Southern civil rights revolt
however, failed to jibe with Associ-
ated Press reports that the move
apears to be tapering off slightly as
a serious threat to President Tru-
mans election chances.
Developments in Texas and Ar
kansas this week strengthened the
belief among Mr.. Truman's back
ers that the President may take
every Dixie electoral vote despite
organized opposition within the
party.
Backers Of the new ticket in Texas
APPARENTLY will have difficulty get
ting their candidates on the ballot.
Gov. Beauford Jester is described
as a possible obstacle to their con-
troll of the approaching State Demo-
cratic Convention.
McMath May Hold Line.
Mr.. Truman's neutenants here
feel that the apparent victory OF
Sidney McMath in the Arkansas
Governors race is another factor in
their favor. The 36-year-old Hot
Springs prosecutor has made no
public commitment, but was expect
ed to hold the States party in line
for the President.
Meanwhile, Mr.. Seay reiterated
here yesterday that prospects were
improving for at least 100 electoral
votes and a campaign for funds is
being planned.
It was announced that the Dixie
faction will hold States Rights"
dinners on September II through
out the South. They will take the
form of old-fashioned box lunch
.suppers with the boxes tp ,bs sold
May Hold Balance Of Power.
Mr.. Seay said that If Mr.. Truman
and Mr. Dewey split the electoral
vote, and the decision goes to the
House of Representatives, the Dixie
group will hold the balance of power
Mr.. Seay was asked how the
Southerners would vote If the cleo
ton actually did go to the House
and they held the final say.
Without answering directly. Mr..
Seay pointed out that "our choice
now is Mr.. Thurmond." He referred
to J. Strom Thurmond. Governor of
South Carolina, who announced in
Columbia yesterday that he will run
on the general election ballot lin
every State where 1t is possible to
do So"
The Governor indicated he and
his running mate. Gov. Fielding l..
Wright Of Mississippi. will try to
carry Northern as well as Southern
States.
In Washington, Mr.. Seay declared
the Dixie group is out to raise at
least 100000 to finance a fight
between "totalitarianism" and de
mocracy." He denied the revolt was
due to a quarrel over racial or sec
tional issues.
Most politicians here think the %
electoral votes of South Carolina,
Alabama and Mississippi may be
lost to Mr.. Truman.
But the administration camp has
been talking of possible court suits
to force those electors to support
the President-if he should carry
the three States.
In Hartford, Conn, last night
Franklin D. Roosevelt, jr., assailed
what he called the "odorous record"
of the Republican Party in an ad-
dress keynoting the Democratic
State Convention.
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