Evening star., 1948-07-04
Douglas President
Drive Under Way; All
Delegates Petitioned
By GouId Lincoln

By Gould Lincoln
While Southern Democrats-and
some from the North and West
are advocating draft Eisenhower"
program to stop the nomination of
President Truman, a. definite move
ment in favor Of giving the Demo-
cratic presidential nomination to
Associate Justice Douglas of the Su-
preme Court has materialized.
In addition to the support which
has been given the Douglas-for-
President drive by the Americans
for Democratic Action, headed by
Leon Henderson. Douglas organiza-
tions of Democrats have sprung up
in various parts of the country.
Democrats for Douglas" organ
ized in Ann Arbor. Mich, for ex-
ample, is circularizing all delegates
elected to the Democratic National
Convention, asking them to join a
Douglas nomination move. Everett
Reimer is chairman, Jerome Wilkin-
son, treasurer, and Eleanor e. Mac
coby. secretary Of the Michigan or
ganization.
How Some Visualize 1t.
Some of the supporters OF Justice
Douglas feel that If the national
convention actually nominateS Gen.
Eisenhower, and the former Army
Chief of Staff subsequently turns
the nomination down. Mr.. Truman
will have been effectually stopped,
and the convention will then turn
to Justice Douglas. This may be
wishful thinking, for it seems i'm
probable that Gen. Eisenhower WILL
permit the convention to nominate
if he is not going to accept noml-
nation at it's hands. A firm state
ment from the general would make
a stampede of the convention I'M
possible.
Such statement undoubtedly
would bring an end to any chance
of defeating Mr.. Truman for the
nomination. For that reason, 1t is
easy to understand the reported
anxiety at the White House, and
the hope that the general Will speak
out promptly-as he may DO 1ues-
day when he returns to his ONCE
at Columbia University.
If Gen. Eisenhower fails to make
any statement, his silence Will oe
INTERPRETED as a go" signal by MS
supporters for the Democratic NOM
ination. When the roll OF States
is called for presidential nomna-
tions in the convention Alabama
will lead off, and one way or an
other Eisenhower will be placed IN
nomination.
Fourteen Points Listed.
The Michigan Democrats for JUS
tice Douglas have sent to each oeie-
gate to the Democratic convention
= list of Fourteen Points for Demo-
cratic Victory" all aimed to sho"
that President Truman, II nom-
mated. has no chance OF success
and that Justice Douglas would be
the strongest candidate the Demo-
Gratis could put up.
In their letter to the delegates,
the Michigan Douglas Democrats
say:
"This is no ordinary convention.
For the first time in Is years the
Democratic party faces defeat IN
q presidential election. AT one Oh
the pravest periods Of world MIS-
tory, the Government OF the ohlteo
States stands in prospect OF going
bv default to the Republican Party
The consequences for the Demo-
Gratis the Nation and the world are
incalculable.
In the enclosed we present wnat
seems to us conclusive PROOF tnat
William o. Douglas is the best ana
perhaps the only hope OF the party
and the nation
Some Difficulties Foreseen.
The fourteen points for Justice
Douglas attempt to show that tne
democratic Party has no hope with
truman: that the balance OF power
in the election is held by indepen-
dent voters who would rally to JUS
tice Douglas, and that the indepen-
dent vote in the big cities OF the
country, including New York, Chi-
caeo, Detroit, Baltimore, Philadel-
phia. st. Louis, Pittsburgh. Boston,
Cleveland and Milwaukee, can swing
the election to the Democrats.
They attempt to show also that
labor is more favorable to Justice
Douglas than to any other possible
presidential nominee - including
Gen. Eisenhower. 1t is argued that
only Justice Douglas could hope to
bring back to the Democratic fold
MANY of the present followers OF
Henry Wallace and his third party
In conclusion, the letter said that
douglas is the real answer OF the
Democratic Party to the desire OF
the American people for a change.
and he has the support OF the key
groups of voters. who will make the
decision in November
The Douglas supporters, however,
may run into grave difficulty when
they attempt to convince delegates
to the national convention that he
is widely enough known the country
over, or that he can be sold to the
country sufficiently by election day.