Evening star., 1948-02-20
Truman Speech Fails
To Reveal Depth Of
Southerners' Revolt

10uIneTneIS kevOll
The question of the magnitude of
the Southern revolt against Presi-
dent Truman's civil rights program
was left unanswered today, although
the rebellious attitude of Southern
Democrats was made plain at JET
jackson Day dinners Of the
party last night in the South.
Some party members attending
the dinner at Little Rock, Ark, left
before the Presidents speech in
Washington was heard, "piped in"
to the hall where the dinner was
held. Whether the proceeds of the
dinner will be turned over to the
Democratic National Committee re-
manned question, according to AS
sociated Press dispatches.
Attorney General Clark was the
chief speaker at Little Rock, He
did not refer to the civil rights
program.
Senator Byrd of Virginia, address
ing members of the party at Rich
mond, said Southerners in Congress
would fight with every legislative
device within their power the White
House anti-lynch, anti-poll tax and
anti-Jim Grow laws.
Hoey Heartily" Backs Byrd.
"We may loes the battle" he said,
"and then it will be time enough
to decide what action the Southern
States should take"
Senator Hoey of North Carolina,
another speaker at the Richmond
dinner, heartily subscribed" to the
sentiment of Senator Byrd.
At the Washington dinner Pres
ident Truman said nothing which
could be identified as an answer
to the threats of rebellion in the
South.
Even If he had, there were few
Southerners there to hear him.
Most of them stayed away, setting
the stage for a meeting of South
. ern members of Congress today to
organize their fight against the
Presidents proposals.
Democratic National Chairman
]. Howard McGrath agreed to talk
it over with delegation OF five
Southern Governors today. He told
reporters he will let Mr.. Truman
know how he comes out.
Withholding of Funds Urged.
The question of withholding the
proceeds of the Arkansas $15-a-
plate-dinner as protest was raised
at the dinner last night, but a
standing vote on the question was
inconclusive. r. A. Lille, dinner
chairman, said he would check the
question to the Arkansas State
Committee.
There had been vague threats
there would be "walkout" after
Attorney General Clark concluded
his speech and before the President
was to be heard. Although Mr.. Lille
urged the party members in the
interval between Mr.. Clark's speech
and that of the President, many
returned, however, and the hall was
well filled.
Those who left during the inter-
mission included none of the State
party heads who had criticised Mr..
Truman's civil rights stand.
Mr.. Clark praised the President
as courageous, honest, fortnight,
sincere and progressive"
Byrd's Words Are Bitter.
Senator Byrd, who said at Rich
mond that it would be time to de-
eide what the Southern States
should do after the battle" differed
Af hi on11no uhni
have urged an immediate break.
The Senator, in precise, carefully
measured and bitter words, said It'll
was not a pleasant task to deliver
his speech and that he did SO "only
under the impulse of the strongest
sense of duty to those who have
honored me-"
THE Southern people have their
PRIDE" he said, "and If know them
rightly they do not intend to submit
tamely to having their customs and
traditions made political football
for the benefit of political aspirants.
Hopes Virginia Leads Way.
He said the Federal Government
would try to enforce repeal Of the
segregation laws by withholding
Federal aid to which Southern
States have contributed by taxes.
He said some of the Presidents
proposals could very conceivably
lead to dictatorship"
If such coercion develops, he said,
IT pray God that Virginia will lead
the Southern States in renouncing
for all time every dollar of Federal
aid"
Democrats speaking at Jefferson |
jackson Day dinners elsewhere in
the Nation were more specific about |
some things than President Tru-
man, according to Associated Press ,
dispatches
At Fort Wayne, Ind, Senator
Chavez of New Mexico said the
party ought to be proud of Harry
Truman" for carrying on the civil
rights fight "in the face of threat
ened revolts"
At New Haven, Conn.,, Senator
Mcmahon of Connecticut said the
party Is committed to seeing that
there are mo second-class citizens,
no attempt to interpret the Consti-
tuition in terms of race or color"
At st. Paul, Senator Sparkman of
Alabama declared none but the
blind can escape the conclusion that
Republican victory in 1948 is
exactly what the real conservatives
on the one hand and the Com
munists on the other most desire"
Meanwhile supporters of Presi-
dent Truman won control Of the
Minnesota Democratic-F Farmer Labor
State Central Committee over back
ers of Wallace.
The Truman forces mustered
about 100 of the 1873 delegates
voting to elect steering commit
tee to handle the State convention