Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-12-27
South May Back
E|ector Change
ToGaiin Power
Party Faction Sees
Opportunity to Curb
Northern Influence
By Cholmers M. Roberts

BY Cholmers M. Roberts
If the system of electing oul
Presidents is to be modernized be-
fore the Nation votes again in 1852
it is very likely that the South will
furnish the necessary votes-both
in Congress and the State legisla-
lures
The extent of support for a
change in the Electoral College sys-
tenn was indicated in a poll by The
Star, published yesterday. Of the
s6 members of the Senate in the
81st Congress, ST favor some sort
of action, q were undecided and
only expressed opposition. The
remaining Is were not reached.
The compelling reason for South
ern support, it appears, is the feel
ing that the Democratic Party has
now fallen into the hands of the
Northern liberal wing and that the
South's once great influence can
not be restored until it has more
bargaining power.
Humphrey Favors Change.
The States Rights movement
grew out of the Endorsement of the
Presidents civil rights program by
the Democratic National Conven-
ton last June, a move led by newly
elected Senator Humphrey of Min
nesota and RepreSentative-elect
Biemiller of Wisconsin, both DEM
ocrats. Senator Humphrey favors a
Nation wide popular vote for Pres
ident, but can be counted on to
support the Lodge plan if his idea
cannot get sufficient votes.
Southerners generally feel the
civil rights issue was rammed down
the conventions throat as a vote
getting move among Northern
Negroes and labor groups and hence
they feel the voting Importance of
such groups would be greatly re-
duced if a States electoral votes
were split according to the popular
vote. AS it is now, a few thousand
votes cast by a minority group can
swing a States bloc of votes from
one candidate to another.
Would End One-Party Rule.
The new amendment has among
its strongest hackers such conserv-
atives as Representative Gossett Of
Texas, the House sponsor, and Sen
ators Hoey of North Carolina and
Eastland and Stennis of Mississippi
1t also has the support of such
liberal Southerners as Senator
elect Kefauver of Tennessee and
Senator Fulbright of Arkansas who
has joined Senator Lodge. Republi-
can, of Massachusetts,, AS co-spon-
sor.
All of these men feel that the
amendment would bring TWO party
system to the South and end
its status as a solid and certain
Democratic area and thus an area
generally ignored by the Northern
Democrats.
Senator ELECT Kefauver. the man
who smashed the Crump machine
in Tennessee to win his new job,
has been introducing bills for such
an electoral reform for many years
and was one of the earliest spon-
sors of the amendment. The final
amendment likely to be voted on
in Congress this next year is likely
to bear his name, in fact.
The new Senator feels the amend
ment would be a move of major
importance to the development OF
the South for a variety OF reasons.
He prepared the following analysis
for. The Star Of what he considers
the amendment would mean to the
South.
THE South, like New England
and certain other states, has long
suffered because of the one-party
system. The passage of this amend
ment would:
81. Limit the possibility of the
people voting blindly for President
and Vice President. The threat OF
electors not following the will OF the
party was present in 1914. 1t has
now become reality. (The Senator
elect is referring to the Tennessee
elector who voted for Gov. Thur
mond, although President Truman
carried the States popular vote.)
Unless this amendment is passed,
the voters will never know whether
their will is being expressed.
End of Dixiecrats Seen.
%. A strong two-party system is
the only healthy way a democracy
can operate. In the South, it would
mean the end of the Dixiecrat move
ment. Some Dixiecrafts would join
the Republican Party; some Pro-
gressive Republicans would join the
Democratic Party. The lines would
be more clealy drawn. Political die
tators would not have an oppor-
tunity of continuing control through
capturing the party machinery OF
either party.
"3. The position of the South and
also other one-party sections would
be given full consideration by the
leadership of both national parties.
A vote in the South would mean as
much to the Democratic or Repub-
lican candidates as the vote in New
York or Pennsylvania. Both parties
would take into consideration the
problems and attitudes Of one-party
sections.
Il. The South and one-party sec
tons would have a stronger demand
for Cabinet positions and other high
places in the Government.
IS. The emoluments and benefits
from the Federal Government woulc
be more evenly divided and there
would not be a starvation of any
Federal benefits in any one section
when some particular party was ii
control.
Amendment Called Imperative.
THE passage of this amendment
is imperative for orderly elections
and for fair consideration and rep.
reservation of every section Of oul
Nation"
In considering the effect on the
South, it is worth totaling the
Republican votes in the II South
ern States. Gov. Dewey polled near
II, Snn mn yotac fo olroOct S00 00f