The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1948-07-21

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SPECIAL session of Congress Ju
that will put both parties OF
vember election.
The Congress is not the only
body put on the spot by this con-
vention. however. The nominal
ton Of Sen. Alben Barley as vice
president and its effect on the
South and on the Negro. the flu
ture attitude of the South toward
the party and the future of the
Democrats are also questions
brought to the front by the con-
vention.
Because the President has call
ed Congress to meet. voters will
have a first-hand chance to look
at the record just before an cleo
ton. Negroes will be watching
especially the action on civil
rights.
The Republicans will be watch
ed because they are the majority
group in Congress. The Demo-
Gratis must be careful, too, because
of what the Southerners may do.
This Congress may well determine
the unity and future of the party.
In his acceptance speech, the
President called for unity in the
party. He said:
"There have been differences of
opinion and that is the democrat
ic way. These differences have
been settled by a majority vote as
they should be, and it is time for
us to get together and beat the
common enemy and that is up to
you
This. appeal for unity came aft
er an open split on civil rights.
Mississippi's 20 delegates and 10
of Alabama's delegates walked
out of the convention before the
President was nominated.
An hour-1ong debate on civil
rights was held on the floor with
the South sticking to states rights
and liberal group led by Mayor
Hubert H. Humphrey of Mime
apolis and ex-Rep. Andrew Bic
muller of Wisconsin fought for a
strong civil rights plank.
After states rights amend
ment introduced by Gov. Dan
Moody of Texas failed by vote
of s25 to 800. the civil rights pro-
posal squeezed by favorably,
6611s to 582h.
The Humphrey amendment
praised the President, I'VE high
ly commend President Harry s.
Truman for his courageous stand
on the issue of civil rights"
It also calls for Congress to
pass laws for "the right of full
and equal political participation,
the right to equal opportunity of
employment, the right of security
of person. the right of equal
treatment in the service and de-
Tense of our nation
The party's platform committee
already had approved watered-
down civil rights plank which said
practically nothing. The South
was not satisfied with this YER
sion, so 1t offered states rights
amendment.
I'VE call for the adherence to
the fundamental principles of
states rights as reserved in the
federal constitution and pledge
that we will oppose any attempt
by legislation or otherwise to
evade the exclusive jurisdiction of
the states in their domestic af-
fairs"
Because this plank was reject
ed the 25 Alabama and Missis-
sippi delegates bolted the meet
ing. Several states from the
South have planned to hold their
own convention, and nominate
their own candidate.
Southerners gave varying view
on civil rights. Cecil Sims and
Mrs. Albert e. Hill of Tennessee
said that they did not object to
middle of the road states rights
plank. Walter Siller of Missis.
sippi said that he did not wan
any kind of civil rights.
One Southernor. paraphrasinl
william Jennings Bryan, said thai
the convention shall not cruelty