Evening star., 1948-06-10
Compromise Certain
In Democratic Fight
Over Civil Rights
Administration Agrees
To Adept Some PIonk
Used in 1914 Platform
Bv David Laurence

BY David Laurence
The civil rights" fight is about
over. It had threatened for time
to bring a revolt of electors from
the South who might desert Presi-
dent Truman when the Electoral
College met
The Truman administration has
agreed to a compromise which is
satisfactory to virtually all the
Southern Senators. It Is simple
solution-the Democratic National
Convention will be asked to adopt
as its platform the same plank
which the convention approved in
1914 and which all the Southern
States accepted on that occasion.
The plank reads as follows:
I'VE assert that mankind believes
In the four freedoms. We believe that
the country which has the greatest
measure of social justice is capable
of the greatest achievements. We
believe that racial and religious
minorities have the right to live, de-
velop and vote equally with all
citizens and share the rights that
are guaranteed by our Constitu-
ton. Congress should exert its full
constitutional powers to protect
those rights"
Pressure for Compromise.
= The pressure for the compromise
has come as much from Southern
members of Congress as it did from
Northern Democrats. In some
States a critical situation faced
those members of Congress up for
reelection. If, as threatened by
the boiling Democrats, a ticket
called "State Democratic" or by a
similar name were put on the ballot,
the Truman supporters in those
States indicated determination
to enter a ticket called National
Democratic" This meant that the
Democratic vote would be split be-
tween two tickets, and in those
States where Republican minorities
are beginning to be substantial the
Republicans, as a third party, would
have an excellent chance to elect
Senators and Representatives.
It's about the same result as has
been forecast in Northern States,
where the Wallace vote will sub
tract just enough from the Demo-
cratic vote to insure the electoral
vote going to the Republicans.
Under these circumstances, faced
with the prospect of a rise in Re-
publican strength in the South, the
Democrats in Congress up for cleo
tion have been discussing the mat
ter with the administration spokes-
men. While every convention is a
law unto itself, the most ironclad
assurances have been given that the
administration will insist on the
1914 platform without change.
Inasmuch as Senator McGrath,
chairman of the Democratic Ma
tional Committee, who has been in
the midst of the controversy over
"civil rights" from its very begin
ming, is to be chairman of the Plat
form Committee at the Democratic
National Convention, it may be
taken for granted that the civil
rights" issue will be disposed OF as
the White House wishes.
These developments have been
taking shape as President Truman's
delegates have increased to the
point where he is absolutely certain
of denomination. Only with
drawal, on his own initiative, can
change the situation and produce a
different candidate.
Turn Of Events Possible.
There Is bare chance that If the
Republicans emasculate the Marshall
Plan and adopt a party platform OF
the nationals" variety and turn
down Messrs. vandenberg, Stassen
and Dewey-all of whom have been
outspoken in favor of the European
Recovery Program-and name in
stead Speaker Martin or Senator
Bricker of Ohio on a quasi-isolation.
list program, there would be de-
mand from those ardent supporters
of the international program that
President Truman come to the res
cue with proposal of his own to
Gen. Eisenhower that he make the
race. 1t would be apparent that Mr.
Truman could easily be nominated
There would then be no humiliation
In giving up the nomination.
The idea would be to prevent a
return to isolationism. Such a turn
Of events might bring the emergency
that could cause Gen. Eisenhower to
change his mind and make the race
as a Democrat, whereas the nomina-
ton of Vandenberg, Stassen OF
Dewey would certainly not induce
the general to accept. 1t is being
said on Capitol Hill that If Gen
Eisenhower were persuaded to be-
lieve that the soldiers he led in the
war were being betrayed by the
reversion of the Republicans to isola-
tionism, as happened in the l920s
he might consider this to be the
circumstance that he limited at in
his original letter of declination
when he said that, "in the absence
of some obvious and overriding rea-
son." he would abstain from seek
ing high political Office
Gen. Eisenhower may not be nom-
mated, but his influence on the
course OF both conventions is rising
Reproduetion Rishts Reseryedl