Evening star., 1948-11-09
Party Rebuffs Appeal
BY Mrs. Roosevelt 10
Purge States Fighters
BY the Asseeioted Press

Democratic leaders turned a
cold shoulder today on the pro-
posal by Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt
that States Rights supporters
be purged from the party.
Senator McGrath. Democratic ma
tional chairman, told a reporter it
will be up to the Democratic mem
bers Of the House and Senate to
decide who gets the priced chair
manships in the new Congress.
He indicated the National Com
mittee doesn't want to mix in any
such possible fight.
The Rhode Islander limited fur
ther-but didn't say so f1atly-that
any reprisal program such as Mrs.
Roosevelt suggested wouldn't fit in
with current efforts to solidify
Democrats behind the legislative
proposals President Truman will
send to Congress in January.
Favors Permanent Custer"
In a radio broadcast from Paris
yesterday, Mrs. Roosevelt said she
would like to see the permanent
ousting of the Southern Dixiecrats
from the Democratic Party"
The Presidents widow suggested
that some Southerners who opposed
Mr.. Truman's civil rights program
would be denied congressional chair
manships if they aren't recognized
as Democrats.
She named specifically Repre-
sentative Rankin of Mississippi,
clubbing him "one of the worst re-
dictionaries" and Senator Johnston
of South Carolina.
She said Senator Johnston
"snubbed President Truman, cam
paigned against him and then was
one of the first on the train at
Washington to congratulate the VIC
torious President after his election"
Refused to Attend Dinner.
Senator Johnston refused to at
tend the Jackson Day dinner here
last winter because of his opposi-
ton to the Presidents civil rights
proposals but later announced he
was voting for Mr. Truman. He re-
fused comment on Mrs. Roosevelt's
statement.
But Democratic Committee off,
cials said Mrs. Roosevelt was off
base on Senator Johnston's cam
palgn record. William ]. Primm.
assistant to Senator McGrath. said:
Senator Johnston was very helpful
throughout the campaign. He has
worked with the committee in every
way we asked"
Senator Johnston is expected to
get the Craftsmanship of the Post
Office and Civil Service Committee
Mr.. Rankin is in line to head the
House Veterans Committee.
Answers Mrs. Roosevelt.
He said at his home in Tupelo,
Miss: The less the American
people hear from Mrs. Eleanor
Roosevelt, the better of the coun-
try will be-"
OF IS Senate committees, only five
chairmanshlps will be filed by
Southerners if the congressional
seniority rule stands.
Eight Southerners are in line for
House committee chairmanships, but
except for Mr.. Rankin, few if any
openly opposed Mr. Truman after
he won the nomination.
Several of those made anti-Tru-
man speeches before the Philadel-
phla convention, but party leaders
in the House have indicated the
emphasis will be. upon harmony
rather than punishment when the
new Congress meets.
Similarly. Democratic National
Committee officials were said to hold
no grudge against most of the
Southern Senators-even in the four
States of Alabama, Mississippi
South Carolina and Louisiana which
gave their electoral votes to Gov.
j. Strom Thurmond and the States
Rights ticket.
Separate Group Recognized.
Before the election, however, the
National Committee recognized a
separate pro Truman group in
South Carolina as the offcial party
representative in that State. Gov.
Thurmond, until then, had been
National committeeman. Mr.. Primm
said at the time the States Fighters
had "bolted" the Democratic Party.
Senator McGrath said that as far
as he is concerned the decision oust-
ing Gov. Thurmond still stands. He
also pointed out that the States
whose electors cast their votes for
the States Rights candidate risk a
penalty in the next Democratic Ma
tional Convention.
He referred to the four bonus or
extra convention votes which will
60 to the States giving their electoral
Vote IN Mr. Truman