Evening star., 1948-03-08
IG. 0. P. Cool 10 Plan
Ito Ban Federal Aid
lin Civil Rights Fight

In Civil Rights Fight
The civil rights fight moved to
the House floor today with the
Republican leadership apparent
ly ready to side with rebelling
Southern Democrats.
An odd set of political circum-
stances finds the Republicans risk
ing a minor break in their own
lines in an obvious effort to keep
the fires of revolt ablaze in Presi-
dent Truman's party.
The showdown test was to come
over an Anti-Discrimination rider
to the 81 OFT 7,851 900 Labor Depart
Federal Security appropri-
alton bill up for debate today and
a vote probably late tomorrow.
The test follows a bitter speech
by Senator Byrd, Democrat of
Virginia, who yesterday called the
Presidents civil rights program "a
devasting broadside at the SOW
ereignty of states, the fundamentals
of local self government and the
dignity of southern traditions and
institutions.
Tragic Era" Recalled.
The Senator said in a radio inter-
view that he and his Southern col
leagues in the Senate are up
against a very difficult" task in
attempting to block the Truman
program. The proposed legislation,
he said, would impose system Of
force like that after the Civil War
with such disastrous results in
rectal hatred and bloodshed."
| Lured by the presidential votes
of the big city pressure groups"
the Senator charged, the national
Democratic party organization, as
well as the Republicans, would sac
rifice Southern traditions and in
stitutions-and the Federal Con-
stitution itself"
The issue in the House is a pro-
posal to ban Federal educational,
hospital and other funds to States
that do not give equal" educational
and Job opportunities to citizens of
all races.
An Appropriations Subcommittee
which wrote the Labor Department.
FSA bill tackled on rider, or
| r.
But the full committee overrode it
by a 25-to-6 vote and knocked out
the proviso.
Keefe Is Insistent.
Chairman Keefe of the subcom-
mittee, who is sponsor of the anti
discrimination proposal, told re-
porters he would offer it on the floor
to give the entire House a chance
to vote.
A number OF other Republicans
and most Northern Democrats SAID
they are ready to approve 1t. But
the Republican House leadership is
cool to the proposal and, unless it
changes its mind, will help South
ern Democrats kill 1t.
The announced stand of the Re-
publican high command is that the
proviso has no place in an appro-
priations bill and should be con-
sidered as a separate bill.
But behind the scenes, Repub-
licans admit privately that it would
not be good political strategy for
them to incur the wrath of Southern
Democrats fighting the Presidents
own race laws program. en-.
s17O.OO0, 900 Fund Involved. !. -
Upward of $17o,00O,OOo in the bill
would be affected by the keefe
proposal. The money largely is
for hospital construction and voca-
tional education programs.
In the radio interview over Sta
ton WEAM, Senator Byrd. who has
been frequently mentioned as a pos
sible Southern backed rival to Pres
ident Truman, said:
II think the people of the South
will form their own opinions when
they realize the full import (of the
civil rights program. Meanwhile
I believe it will be the consensus of
Southern people that these recon-
mendations are aimed directly at
the South.
i They have reason to believe that
the national organizations OF both
the Democratic and Republican
Parties, to the humiliation of the
South, are exploiting them in the
North, East and West"
Senator Byrd asked:
What has the South done to
justify such treatment at the hands
OF the national political party OF
their traditional allegiance?"
/ Stakes Are High
Without the South" he said,
there would be no national Demo-
cratic Party today. Yet, the national
democratic Party organization, as
well 40 the Republicans, would
sacrifice Southern traditions and
institutions-andt the Federal Con-
stitution itself-for the presidential
votes of big city pressure groups.
Il do not believe the South will
barter its fundamental principles
The stakes are high and I do not
believe the South will remain i'm
potent to protect its rightful in
terests.'
! %: s,71s.h NV