Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-07-14
South Wins One Bout,
Loses Convention Test
Over Two.Thirds Rule
ey the Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA, July IA
The rebellious South marked up
q victory and a defeat in the
first stages of the anti-Truman
battle scheduled for showdown
at the Democratic convention
today.
Dixie delegates won their first
test last night when the uproarous
sessions voted to seat a Mississippi
delegation headed by Gov. Fielding
Wright. Gov. Wright has been a
leader among the foes of President
Truman and his civil rights pro-
gram
They lost a few minutes later
however, in an attempt to have the
party restore the two-thirds nomi-
mating rule which it abandoned
II years ago.
Both actions were by voice votes,
Agree Against Roll Call.
Senator Barley, temporary chair
man, announced that both sides
had agreed in advance in each in
stance not to force roll call.
The attempt to unseat Gov
Wright's delegation-pledged to walk
out if the party adopts platform
embodying any of Mr.. Truman
civil rights program - caused the
widest convention scene to date.
Delegati tons from several States
clamored for a roll call, despite Sem
ator Barkley's announcement. Speak
ers were booed and cheered, Dele
gates stood in the aisles and in their
seats
Senator Barley finally agreed
that any State delegations wishing
to be recorded as voting for adop-
ton of the minority (anti-Wright)
report of the Credentials Commit
tee could do so by seeing him. I'LL
nois, New York. Michigan, Cali
fornia, Pennsylvania, Connecticut
Iowa. Minnesota, Nevada, Ohio
Washington, Wisconsin and the
District of Columbia did so but their
SOB votes was nowhere near enough
to overhaul the voice decision. A
majority would be 618 votes.
Hatch Urges Support.
George Vaughn, st. Louis Negro
attorney, presented the minority
report. Senator Hatch of New Mex
leo, a close friend of President Tru-
man, urged support Of the Creden-
tials Committees majority. The
committee voted 1911 earlier to seat
Gen. Wrights group. Committee
members from nine States and
Hawaii joined Mr.. Vaughn in his
stand.
Mr.. Vaughn said President Tru-
man has asked that colored people
who are in fear of their lives from
mob violence. be relieved of that
fear by enactment of a Federal law
Furnishing mob violence which the
States have failed to do
He also told the convention thai
100000 Negroes have left the
south during and since World Wal
II in order to escape this thing"
The proposal to return to the
tWo-thirds rule. under any candl-
date for President or Vice Presi'
dent would be required to receive
two-thirds majority of all delegates
was made by six Dixie members Of
the conventions Rules Committee.
It's adoption would have been a
powerful weapon in the anti-Tru-
man drive of some Southern dele
cations. The rule was dropped in
1886 at the behest of the late Pres1-
dent Roosevelt.
The proposal to restore the two
thirds requirement was made by
2. D. Murphy, Georgia; Edgar A.
Brown. South Carolina; Phil Whit
aker. Tennessee: Hugh White. Mis-
sissippi: Bob George, Kansas, and
Wright Morrow, Texas.
O'Conor Backs Ma ;ority System.
Senator OConor. Democrat, OF
MARYLAND supported the majority
report for retention of the majority
system.
Charles Hamilton of Aberdeen
Miss, challenged the authority OF
the Wright delegation to speak fol
Mississippi.
He asked that a group he head
be seated-along with any Wrlgh
supporters who would agree to sup
port the National nominees of thu
party.
Mr.. Hamilton termed the Wright
group mot Democratic" in his ap'
pearance before the Credentials
Committee. Mr. Vaughn told thu
convention Negroes are denied thu
right to register, vote or participate
In Government in Mississippi.