Evening star., 1948-03-16
The Political Mn W
Solid South Seating Bon
At Convention Possible

At Convention Possible
Action of Governors in Rights Fight
Puts Democratic Chiefs on Spot
By Gould Lincoln
The Democratic National Convention meet.
ing IN Philadelphia next July may have to de.
cide whether or not to seat the delegations sent
to the convention by the States Of the solid
SOUTH 1t will be tough decision. But that
is the situation created BY President Truman's
civil rights stand-and by the revolt Of
Southern Democrats against him.
Tho governors Of seven out Of the II Southern
States have pledged themselves to use their
influence to have the delegates to the party's
national convention instructed" not to vote
for the nomination Of any candidate, including
Mr.. Truman, who favors this civil rights pro-
gram, with its Federal anti-poll tax anti-lynch-
ing and FEPC legislative proposals. Further, IL
IL proposed that the national convention be put
on notice that these instructions have been
given to the delegations.
Can the party leaders backing Mr.. Truman
stomach delegations bearing such instructionsa
And will the delegates from the North and
West agree to the seating Of delegates from
the South 20 instructed? II the convention de-
cides not to seat the southerners-it will be .
''lockout"-not walk out" on the part OF the
southerners. II the convention does seat the
Southern delegates, and goes ahead with Its
plan to nominate Mr.. Truman, then the
Southerners plan = walk out" So 1t looks like
first-class rumpus from any point Of view.
Governors Back Plan.
The governors Of seven States who have al
ready subscribed to this plan to attack . Tru-
man candidacy in the Democratic National
Convention are Governors Tuck Of Virginia,
Wright Of Mississippi, Laney OF Arkansas,
Jester Of Texas, Thurmond Of South Carolina,
Folsom Of Alabama and Thompson Of Georgia.
The other four States of the South-whose
governors may yet subscribe to the plan-are
Florida. Louisiana, Tennessee and Oklahoma.
The instruction Of delegates to the party's
national conventions by Democratic State con-
ventions Of the South Is by no means new. For
example, the Virginia delegation to the Demo-
cratic National Convention OF 1914 was 'in-
structed" by the Virginia convention to vote
against the denomination Of Vice President
Henry Wallace. The delegation was seated
with these instructions. It worked and voted
against Mr.. Wallace-and supported the NOM
ination Of Harry s. Truman for Vice President
This Is the same Mr.. Truman whom the vir-
sinia Democrats are now seeking to deny .
presidential nomination.
Twist and turn rs they will, the Truman ad-
and its supporters have SO far
been totally unable to extricate themselves from
the dilemma brought about by President Tru-
mans civil rights message to Congress. Instead
of getting better, the situation has constantly
deteriorated. Mr.. Truman, while saying he has
not retreated bit from his civil rights pro-
posals, has said he does not intend to send ad-
ministration bills to Congress to carry out the
program. In other words, II any Of these pro-
posals are to be enacted into law, they will have
to be drafted by the Republicans in Congress-
traditional enemies Of the Democrats of the
South. If this was intended to appease the
Southern Democrats, 1t has fallen far short of
success.
Southern Democrats say frankly that they
have more feeling against Mr.. Truman because
of his civil rights stand than they have against
The Republicans. They insist that Mr.. Truman
,ithsr is hypocritical in the position he has
aiken. or he has turned his back on his South.
IN background.
Drive Seen on Increase.
The Southern drive against Mr.. Truman seems
70 be on the increase. For example, few weeks
lgo the Governors Of Texas and Georgia
Ieemed to be lukewarm to the revolt lead by
Mississippi Virginia and South Carolina Demo-
rats. When the conference Of Southern Gov
,rnors met here on last Saturday, both Gov.
lester of Texas and Thompson of Georgia ex-
pressed themselves strongly in favor Of the
lnti- Truman resolution which was adopted
without dissenting vote.
It is not only in the South that the revolt is
njuring Mr. Truman and his chances for cleo
tion to the presidency. Thousands Of South
erners who have moved into the States Of the
North and West, and into the border States
Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky and Mis-
sourt-may be expected to register their pro-
test against the President when they 60 to the
polls next November.
Mr.. Truman Is in the unfortunate position
that If he seeks to appease the South he will
lose votes in the North and West, on this civil
rights issue.