Evening star., 1949-08-25
The Political Mill
Democratic Chiefs Forced
To Purge Stotes-Righters
Bitter Reaction Seen With Oustins
Of Southerners from Committee

Bitter Reaction Seen With OuSt1n2
Of Southerners from Committee
By Gould Lincoln
The Truman steam roller in the Demo-
cratic National Committee effectively has
slapped down those Southern brethren who
failed to support the Truman-Barkley ticket
in the 1948 campaign-and Is now seeking
to evaluate its achievement. Such stalwarts
as Frank McHale of Indiana, chairman Of
the Credentials Committee which lowered
the boom on the States Fighters. say frankly
they believe they have done a good job;
that they have shown the American people
that the Democratic Party Of Harry Truman
has the courage to meet serious issue and
face it sincerely in the interests of civil rights
and progressive government.
Looking at the situation from practical
point of view-there seemed nothing else
for the Truman Democrats to do if they are
to have any party discipline.
Nevertheless. the ousting Of duly selected
members of the Democratic National Com
mittee from Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi
and South Carolina-in spite of the Presi-
dents tongue-in-cheek invitation that the
straying Democrats return to the fold
is bound to have bitter reaction. not only
among the Democrats in those States but
in other Southern States. The ousted
committeeman and committee women ad-
mitted frankly they were States Fighters
and opponents of Truman in the last
national campaign. Further, after hav-
ing been kicked off the national COM
mittee, they gave due notice they would
go home and fight. They warned that the
Democrats in their States would never give
their ELECTORAL votes to any candidate for
President who supported the civil rights
program
Look to 1882
in other words they predicted that 1852
would be a repetition of 1948-only there
would be still more Southern votes cast
against Mr.. Truman. if he runs. or any one
else who supports his program.
Take the case of j. B. Snider, Democratic
national committeeman for Mississippi.
Mr.. Snider and his colleague, Mrs. Hermes
Gautier, were tossed of the committee and
never a voice was lifted In their support.
Mr.. Snider says frankly he will have to run
for re-election-which he hadn't planned to
do-when an election is held, and that he Is
confident he will defeat any Truman DEM
ocrat who is put up against him.
1t is significant that as the States Fighters
were being expelled from the Truman gar
den-with Mr.. McHale playing the part Of
the Democratic angel with flaming sword
there was launched here the States Rights
1HSClIuIe, 10 carry IIe LgIlG dSdllSG tIlc
Truman civil rights program and against
every infringement of States rights into the
States of the North and West as well as Of
the South. This new organization will have
its headquarters right here in the National
Capital-where- it hopes to be effective in
its contacts with members of Congress.
Leander Perez of Louisiana will head up the
organization, with plenty Of monetary back
ing.
One of the States rights which the organ
ization is insisting upon is the right of the
States to the so-called marginal oil lands
which the Roosevelt and Truman Democrats
have insisted belong to the Federal Govern
ment. This is a fight in which Louisiana,
Texas and California all have been in
tensely interested.
End Not Yet In Sight.
Evidently, therefore. the States rights
movement, which eliminated last year in
the nomination of Gov. Thurmond of South
Carolina as States rights Democratic can
didate for President is not going to die an
easy or quiet death-though that Is the
wish of the Trumanites. It may be that new
and younger leaders will arise among the
Democrats of these Southern States, who
will take over now that the full power of
the administration and the national COM
mittee has been turned against the old
leaders. But the end is not yet in sight.
Historically the chastisement of the anti
Truman Southerners In the national COM
mittee finds plenty Of precedent. Way back
In 1896, when the so-called Gold Democrats
ran q candidate for President-John M.
.Palmer-against the regularly nominated
Democratic candidate, William Jennings
Bryan. q national committeeman from
Pennsylvania who supported Palmer was
kicked off the committee. The case is on all
fours with the Southern committee members
today who supported Gov Thurmond against
Mr.. Truman. Also the Republicans have on
occasion taken drastic action against party
bolters-for example in 1924 after the La
Toilette bolt.
One effect the ousting Of the Southern
Democrats from the committee is likely to
have. however. Is an increasing animosity
in Congress among Southern Senators and
Representatives against the Truman pro-
gram. The South doesn't scare easily