Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-07-15
federal Steam Roller,
Majority Rule Credited
For Truman Victory
-
sorkley Might Hove Won
First,~PIoee Had
Convention Been Free
By David laurence

PHILADELPHIA, July 15.-Thk
may we'll 60 down in history as the
'upside down" convention of all
times.
Senator Barley. nominated for
Vice President, was really the man
the Democratic National Conyen-
ton might have nominated for
President If it had been free to do so.
Before the convention met, sub
stantiaf number of Northern and
Southern Democrats were united in
demanding the withdrawal of Presi-
dent, Truman and the nomination
Of. Gen, Eisenhower. This was
direct slap at the man subsequently
named for President. The Northern
Democrats then administered slap
at the Southern Democrats by
adopting the civil rights program
Of the very man most Of the dele
gates had sought to ditch.
BY ignoring the warnings OF the
South, the Northern States insisted
on a. civil rights plank that may
cost the regular Democratic nominee
upwards of 100 votes in the electoral
college
Rarely ever In the records OF
political conventions has a national
convention acted with such utter
disregard OF party harmony.
Federal "Steam Roller"
With split in the party led by
Henry Wallace, the man who was
defeated. for the vice presidency in
the 1914, Democratic National Con-
vention, and split now In the
south, the selection of Mr.. Truman
was accomplished only by, the Fed
eral steam roller-the influence OF
Federal officeholders and the bene-
flciaries of Federal funds.
Almost any President can force his
own. denomination when q conven-
ton requires only a majority vote.
Usually this has been fragrant
misuse Of power by the Republicans:
Only the Federal power enabled
Harry Truman, Democratic Presi-
dent; to win the nomination to sue
coed himself. Even the big political
bosses capitulated and Mr.. Truman
now has the nomination that may
we'll prove worthless by next Novem-
Der. It was the abolition OF the two
thirds rule in 1885 which saved the
dav for Mr.. Truman this time.
A one-third bloc could have In
r,res his defeat. The votes Tor
Senator Russell, plus those from
few pivotal States, would have elm
mated Mr.. Truman.
The odd part of it all is that the
tragedy; enacted here was both
avoidable and needless. If the ad-
ministration had kept It's promise
TO the Southern Senators to use It's
influence. to secure the adoption OF
the 1914 platform plank on civil
rights, there would have been no
walkout of Alabama and Missis-
sippi and no rebellion.
Session Not to Help.
II the President had not allowed
personal ambition to rule his
thoughts and had refused to per-
NIT manipulated nomination,
some one else more acceptable to the
party would have been nominated.
Then the delegates here really
would have had the change they
wanted.
On top Of it all, the President has
tried grand-stand play. His
speech to the convention was a
fighting speech in the political sense
and the delegates applauded the
derna goguery Of it.
The recall Of Congress in special
session will not help Mr.. Truman's
chances. The Republicans are in
control of both houses. They can
pass legislation that Mr.. Truman
will have to veto. They can start
another row on the civil rights issue,
. and a fllibuster from the South
can render the whole session null
and void.
Mr.. Truman asked specifically for
the enactment of the civil rights
program. The Republicans can
take 1t up first-and that could be
the. beginning and end of the spe-
cial session. The Presidents criti-
cisms' Of Congress on housing and
education legislation have been
shared by many Republicans. II
the legislation is passed, it probably
will be credited to the Republicans,
who are in majority control. 1t
does look as II the campaign isn't
going to be dull, after all.
Reproduction Rights Reserved)
REPORT OF AN AFFILIATE OF A BANK,