The Chronicle-star combined with the Moss Point advertiser., 1948-02-20

should be passed in the present
session.
The ballot next November will
carry a list of electors selected
by the so-called "black and tan"
republicans of Mississippi; a list
selected by the so-called lily
white republicans of Mississip-
pi and should carry a list of dem
ocratic electors to vote for the
nominee of the National Demo-
cratic Party, and should carry a
list of Independent electors to
vote. in the electoral college, for
any man, regardness of his party
affiliations which in the judg-
ment of the electors would be to
the best interest of the state, the
south and the nation.
If legislation is needed, it
should be enacted now.
The State Democratic Conven-
ton can meet and, among 9TH
er things, select delegates to the
National Democratic Convention
who will go to the convention
and make a fight on our behalf.
The State Convention should
also select democratic electors
who, if elected in November, will
vote for the party nominee. If
the State Democratic Convention,
as such, cannot select a group of
independent electors, then the
convention, as such, might adj
journ and Immediately reconvene
as independent Mississippians
and then select a group of in
dependent electors. The people of
Mississippi have a right to vote
for a party candidate and they
do so by voting for the electors
of that party, and they should
have a right to vote for independ-
ent electors who will be placed
on the ticket as such, and if this
group is elected they will then
be given a mandate by the vot-
ers to vote Independently in the
electoral college.
Never in the history of the
United States are we able to find
where any group of men, wheth-
er presidential electors or other
wise, have deliberately disre-
garded the mandate of the vote
of a sovereign people. That isn't
done wen in Tito's government
of Yugaslavia or under the Krem-
lin. 1t is true that in both places
they disfranchise and prevent
from voting those who would be
against their propositions or their
candidates, and the elections
which they hold are not the ex-
preston of a free people, even
though the decisions expressed
by the election are carried out.
In a democracy and particularly
in Mississippi we are supposed
to have free and honest elections
and the expressed will or decision
of the people is not to be des-
troyed by anyone. I am certain
that the people will vote for the
Independent electors in Missis-
sippf. The people have been
aroused and, during the several
months between the selection of
Truman as the democratic NOM
inee and the election next No
vember, every true southerner
who is a qualified elector in Mis-
sissippi will have time to get
the message and to decide to
vote for independent electors to
beat Truman. If they will not
vote to beat him then those of
us in Jackson yesterday were
not representative of the people.
If, however, all the people want
to defeat Truman except four
hundred or five hundred then
that four hundred or five hun
dred, if we still live under a dem
ocratic form of government, must
be given the right to vote as they
damn please.
Let us not destroy democracy
in our zeal to save it.
/ will appreciate acknowledge
ment from you gentlemen and an
expression of your views.
Awaiting your advice in the
matter, | am
Yours very truly,
(Signed) H. w. GAUTIER.
Carbon copies to:
Governor Fielding L. Wright
Jackson, Mississippi
1t. Governor Sam Lumpkin
jackson, Mississippi
Honorable Walter Sillers
Speaker of the House
jackson, Mississippi
Senator John c. Stennis
Senate Office Building
Washington, D. c.
VoI,'ro