Evening star., 1948-08-31
The Political Min
Truman Tour Of South
Seen as Gamble, at Best
Runs Risk of Hostile Demonstrations
Because of Civil Rights Program
By Gould Lincoln

Dy oOHU LINCOLN
President Truman is the first Democratic
presidential candidate since the DAYS of AL
Smith who has been threatened with loss of
any States Of the Solid South" He may lose
several Of the States to the Dixiecrats' cardi.
date. Gov. Thurmond of South Carolina. and
he might lose one or two to Gov. Dewey OF
New York, Republican. This is an uncomfort-
able position for any Democrat running for
President. 1t makes a hard job harder.
The Democratic high command has insisted
that President Truman will 60 into the South
ern States when he starts campaigning, not
withstanding the great antagonism he has
aroused in that section because of his civil
rights-antisegregation program If he does,
he will run the risk Of hostile demonstrations
although his hackers rely on the traditional
respect of Americans for the presidential Of
nce to prevent such occurrences. 1t is a fact.
however, that many Southerners have no more
use for Mr.. Truman than they have for Henry
Wallace, who has advocated civil rights pro.
gram similar to that of Mr.. Truman. In Dur.
ham, N c., Wallace meeting nearly broke
up IN row while Mr.. Wallace was seek
ing to address the audience. It is improbable
that anything of the kind could happen at Q
Truman meeting particularly with the Secret
Service on the job But there are other kinds
Of demonstrations of disapproval-among them
just staying away from Truman meeting.
Democrats Of South Challenged.
Certain it is that Mr.. Truman's invasion Of
the South If 1t happens, will be followed with
the keenest interest. The political strategy Of
the Roosevelt days FDR) was to keep the
labor vote, the Negro vote in the North, and the
Democratic vote Of the South In line Such
combination, it was figured, could not lose
Many Southern Democrats dislked Roosevelt,
the New Deal, and the Roosevelt play for
Negro support-but never at any time was there
such revolt or such feeling against the late
President as has now arisen against Mr.. Tru.
man.
In order to hang onto the Negro vote in New
York, Pennsylvania, Illinois and Michigan and
other States, President Truman and his fol-
lowers deliberately threw down the gantlet to
the Democrats Of the South. It's gamble, at
best. With the South alone they figured, 1t
was impossible to elect Mr.. Truman next
November.
Gov. Dewey, 1t has been announced, will make
= campaign trip into the South. Gov. Thur
mond will campaign vigorously throughout that
section, and in some of the border States Mr..
Truman. it appears will be forced to 80 into
the South, therefore, whether he wishes to or
gated certainly regarding his antisegregation
stand.
Mr.. Truman has gone all out too in his effort
to hold the so-called labor vote. He already has
the support of most of the leaders of organized
labor-but not all. He Is opening his own.
personal campaign for election with a Labor
Day speech in Detroit. 1t Is a safe bet that,
beginning with repeal of the Taft Harley Labor
Act, Mr. Truman will 20 right down the line in
support Of all labor's demands. He vetoed the
Taft-Hartley Act. and 1t was passed over his
veto.
Scores Of Speakers.
The Democratic high command Is putting
scores OF speakers on Labor Day platforms to
denounce the Republicans and extol Mr.. Tru.
man. They will include members of the cabi.
net Senators and Representatives and Chair
man McGrath Of the Democratic National Com
mittee himself
Gov. Dewey the Republican standard bearer.
as chief executive of his State is issuing q La
Dor Day statement, and he has already made
his Labor Day proclamation. That is about the
extent of the Republicans attempt to make po-
itical capital out Of the Labor Day holiday.
The Republicans, however, are calling on
Harold E. Stassen, former Governor Of Minne-
sofa, one of the leading candidates for the
presidential nomination against Gov. Dewey at
the Philadelphia convention, to reply to Presi-
dent Truman's Labor Day address. Mr.. Stassen
will speak, like Mr.. Truman, in Detroit the day
after the Presidents speech. Mr. Stassen's
speech will be broadcast nationally. The Re-
publicans have by no means given up hope Of
attracting very considerable percentage Of the
labor vote.