Evening star., 1948-07-16
Senator 10 Seek
|Quick End for
Special Session
Johnston Wants
Congress to Quit
At Once July 26
BULLETIN

crat, of South Carolina said
today he will seek to have
Congress quit as soon as it
convenes July 26. Senator
Johnston is a leader of the
Southern Democrats rebellion
against Mr.. Truman's civil
rights program.
A Republican threat to turn
the spotlight on the administra-
ton with a series of investiga-
tions designed to embarrass
President Truman was hurled
today in the wake of the Presi-
dents call for a special session
of Congress to deal with "unfln-
ished business.
With the COP assailing Mr.. Tru-
mans summons as cheap business
and some of the Democrats not
too happy about it-one member
of the House Republican Steering
Committee told the Associated Press
that his associates may open some
inquiries into the Democratic ad-
ministration.
The member. who did not permit
use of his name, did not specify
what the majority had in mind, but
he told reporters that one or two
Investigations could provide a lot
of campaign ammunition for the
Republicans when Congress comes
back week from Monday.
Dewey Silent on Call.
Gov Thomas E. Dewey was silent
on the special session call Next
week the Republican standard
bearer plans to open campaign
headquarters in Washington, where
he can take direct hand in guild
ing his party's political fortunes-on
Capiotl Hill, among other places.
Gov. Dewey's running mate, Gov
Warren of California, said in Sac
ramento that Mr.. Truman's call IT'S
matter between him and the
Congress He said the special ses-
sion would not change Republican
plans to start campaigning early in
September.
From all sections Of the country
Republican Senate and House mem.
bers sounded mounting chorus OF
opposition to the special session. Tt
some, re Stunning the lawmakine
chores which they considered
finished June 20 will mean simpl,
halt to their vacations. But tt
more it will mean q halt in cam.
paigns for reelection in November
Mr.. Truman issued the call fol
what ne has termed the "wors
Congress" since the Reconstruction
Era, just II hours after winning re.
nomination in a North South
splintered convention. The Presi.
dent said IAN extraordinary occa.
sion requires" the special session
He told the convention he wants
action on nine major problems: In.
f1ation, housing, education, health
civil rights, minimum wage boost
social security, public power anc
displaced persons.
15-Day Goal of Session.
The President said that the pro
gram could be dealt with in Is day.
if the Congress was of a mind tt
move speedily.
In Missouri, the President said
July 26 is "turnip day"-the bes
day to SOW seed for a gpod harvest
But it seemed clear that in calling
back Republican lawmakers on thai
date to make good on their plat.
form promises it was Democratic
vote harvest Mr.. Truman had ir
mind.
On the Democratic side it wa
mostly Southerners who showed dis
pleasure. In Birmingham, mean
while, a group of rebel Southern
party members mapped plans tt
hamstring Mr. Truman's election
chances by leaving their Stat,
electors unpledged.
Headed by the States rights dele
gates from Alabama and Mississip'
pi, who walked out of the Phila.
delphia convention, the Birming.
ham group hopes to unite the II
Dixie States in an anti-Trumar
bloc in the electoral college.
But Senator Russell, Democrat, oi
Georgia, who received 263 votes fol
the presidential nomination from
the anti Truman delegates at Phila.
delphia, said he does not consider
the Birmingham meeting "the best
thing for the party"
McGrath Asks Teamwork.
Senator McGrath of Rhode Is
land, Democratic chairman, mean
while told national party leaders
in Philadelphia that if they car
keep the team together he Il
confident they can elect Mr.. Tru'
man and his running mate, Sena.
tor Barley of Kentucky.
Senator Barkley backed MIR. Tru-
mans special session call as q
courageous and proper thing to do
See CONGRESS, Page A-4D