Evening star., 1948-03-14
Southern Governors
Break With Trumon,
.LoyPIonstoB BeotHim
6 Vote to Oppose Any
Candidate Booking
Race Low Program
(Tert OF Resolution on Page A-s.C
By Gould Lincoln

The Conference of Southern
Governors yesterday went on
record as fatty opposing the
nomination or election of Presi-
dent Truman or any other.
candidate who supports Mr..
Truman's civil rights" program.
A resolution was adopted out
lining steps to be taken to
prevent the nomination or elec-
ton of Mr.. Truman.
Six governors voted for the resolu-
tion-Govs. Thurmond of South
Carolina, Jester of Texas, Laney Of
Arkansas, Folsom of Alabama,
Wright of Mississippi and Thomp-
son of Georgia.
Gov. Lane Of Maryland, chairman
of the conference, abstained from
voting. He explained that the con-
trolling body of the Democratic
Party in Maryland Is the Democratic
State Convention. He could in no
way bind the party or the conven-
ton, he said. If he voted on this
resolution, he added, the convention
might resent 1t.
BY Its action the conference broke
finally with Mr.. Truman, denounced
his civil rights" program, and rec
commended to the States q series Of
moves to prevent Mr.. Truman's
nomination and his election If he
wins the nomination.
McGrath Assails Action.
Chairman J. Howard McGrath Of
the Democratic National Commit
tee called their plan most undemo-
| cratic" He said it can only be
dealt with by the (nationaD con-
vention."
Senator McGrath said in his state
ment: I'm effect, the Governors
have said they don't intend to sup
port the nominee of the Democratic
convention unless they can write q
platform that Is entirely to their
satisfaction-or, the whole conven-
ton having written a platform not
to their satisfaction, the candidate,
to gain their support, would have to
repudiate the platform.
This most undemocratic proposal
can only be dealt with by the con-
vention itself. As party chairman,
I can only hope for and continue to
work toward development of q saner
and more reasonable viewpoint con-
corning the issues involved"
Would Withhold Electoral Votes.
The President is an avowed can
didate for the party's nomination
to a full, four-year term.
Among the steps proposed by the
Governors conference was the with
holding of the electoral votes Of The
Southern States from Truman or
any candidate who supports the
civil rights program.
Another proposal was the adoption
and transmission to the Democratic
National Chairman of resolutions
by the State Democratic conven-
tions declaring the Democrats of
these States would not support any
candidate for the Democratic presi-
Dental nomination who favored the
race legislation program.
To Seek States Rights Plank.
1t was proposed, too, that the
States conventions instruct the
delegates to the national conven-
ton to work for a States rights
plank in the Democratic national
platform.
The resolution adopted also pro-
posed that State delegations be in
structed to work for a return Of the
two thirds rule for nominating
presidential and presidential
candidates at Democratic national
conventions.
The resolution was drafted by Q
committee Of four. composed Of
Cows. Thurmond, chairman: Laney,
Jester, and Tuck of Virginia. Gov.
Tuck did not attend yesterdays
meeting. but was represented by
Senator Byrd, who said he sup
ported the program.
The committee submitted blis-
tering report in which 1t declared
that "the present national leader
ship of the Democratic National
Party has deserted the principles Of
government upon which that party
was founded"
The report. which did not name
Mr.. Truman but was obviously
(See DEMOCRATS, Page A-6J