Evening star., 1948-07-03
ID. {. Delegation
Ito Ask Suffrage
And Civil Rights
Six Convention Votes
To Go to Truman
On First Bollot
By Don S. Warren


cratic convention will go to Phila.
delphia seeking an overall suffrage
plank for the National Capital and
approval Of the Presidents civil
rights program.
These courses, It was announced,
were charted at meeting late yes
terday OF 8 of the IL members
of the District delegation, called
into session in the law ONCE OF
Brig. Gen. Albert L. Cox.
Several spokesmen agreed 1t was
a harmonious session, despite the
recent contest over election Of dele
gates, with all six full votes to 80
to President Truman on the first
ballot. Some were restive, however.
and recalled that under the pri-
mary election decisions the unit rule
would apply only until majority
Of the delegates decided to do other.
wise. .4.
Suffrage Solidly Reported.
Solid support was reported for
District suffrage moves. Delegates
said discussions showed full sup
port for both local home rule and
representation in Congress for the
District.
Regardless Of exact language.
delegates said there was 100 per
cent support for both suffrage
angles. Gen. Cox said the group
would seek inclusion in the 1948
platform of the 1914 Democratic
pledge: 1--WE favor the extension OF
the right of suffrage to the people
of the District of Columbia.
Others said: I'VE decided to
favor home rule and representation
in all forms and will back it 100 per
cent" The wording, they said, was
not settled.
At any rate, the suffrage issue
is to be carried to Philadelphia
for pre- convention consideration.
Spokesman for the District group
are to appear before the Resolutions
Committee early in its sessions be-
ginning next Wednesday.
Wattawa Named Chairman.
One Of these will be John Wattawa,
Washington lawyer, who yesterday
was named chairman of the Dis
trict delegation.
Also, spokesmen said, the group
decided to give full support to the
Presidents civil rights stand, despite
the fact that some leading mem
bers are natives of the South.
One official made no mention OF
the civil rights Stand in his report
of the caucus decisions. Another, a
Southern born Democrat, agreed
the civil rights plan would be
backed. A third delegate, member
of the liberal faction, announced
the civil rights program was to be
supported 100 per cent"
While the full six District votes
are expected to 60 to President Tru-
man on the first ballot, some mem-
bers of the delegation indicated
there may be a change If moves to
displace Mr.. Truman gain ground.
Smith Named Vice Chairman.
The statement by one delegate
that I'VE are going down the line
for President Truman" was counter
balanced by that of another that
the majority Of the delegation can
decide where we will wind up"
The group, at its private session
late yesterday, named Arthur Clar-
endon Smith as vice chairman Of
the delegation. Mrs. Kathleen
Loucheim was named secretary, ON
cials announced.
Gen. Cox was selected as District
representative on the convention
Resolutions Committee, James Fran
els Reilly on the Credentials Com
mittee and william L. Houston on
the Rules Committee.
Mrs. Ernest K. Lindley was nomi-
mated for a possible second place
on the Resolutions Committee and
Mrs. Estelle Pearce was named to
a committee to notify the presiden-
tial nominee of his selection. Ed
ward Williams was proposed for q
place on the group to notify the
vice presidential nominee. A. l..
Wheeler was named to a conven.
ton committee on Its permanent
organization.