Evening star., 1949-11-05
The Political Mill
Stotes-Righters Predict
Crucial Campaign in 80
Insist They Have Gained Strength
Since Election Day in 1948
By Gould Lincoln


States Rights Democrats year ago denied
to President Truman the electoral votes of
four States Alabama. Louisiana, Mississippi
and South Carolina, and two electoral votes
OF Tennessee. Today, leaders of the States.
Fighters insist that they are stronger, numer-
ically, than they were on election day, 1948.
Further, they say they are organizing on
the precinct level for the congressional elec-
tions next year. Any attempt to purge"
members OF Congress who supported Gov.
Thurmond of South Carolina, the States
Rights Democratic candidate for President,
will be vigorously resisted. There will be
equally strong resistance to any administra-
tion efforts to get rid of Democratic Senators
and Representatives because they opposed
important items in the Truman program.
States Fighters admit that the campaign
next year may be crucial. They have OBJ
served the administrators bids-through
patronage and plurns of other kinds-to
draw Southern Democrats into the Truman
fold. They have in mind also the attitude
of the Democratic National Committee at
its last meeting in Washington, when it de-
clined to recognize some National Committee
menberS-for example those from Missis-
sippi-becauSe they had not supported tho
Truman-Barkley ticket in 1948. At the
same time. the National Committee dealt
more gently with other members Of the
National Committee from the South, retain
ing them in good standing even though their
States had not gone along with the Truman
Barkley ticket.
Eight Senators Face Test.
Eight OF the Democratic Senators up for
reelection next year are from the solid
South" They are Fulbright of Arkansas,
George of Georgia. Hill of Alabama, Hoey
and Graham of North Carolina, Johnston
OF South Carolina, Long of Louisiana and
Pepper of Florida. Senators Hill, Johnston
and Long all come from States that gave
their votes to Gov. Thurmond-not President
Truman. None of these Senators actively
campaigned against Mr.. Truman-even
though some Of them did not campaign for
him. But nearly all of them have opposed
the administration at one point or another
IN the legislative program demanded by the
President. Particularly is this true of the
civil rights bills. All the members of the
House from these States are up for re-
election, too. The CIO and the Truman
Fair Dealers are out to get the political
scalps of a number of them.
The States Fighters have set up national
headquarters in the National Capital, with
Leander B. Perez of Louisiana as its executive
head. The organization has its national
ommittee-although it does not claim to
be separate political party, but rather
a
the proper time to give aid to Democratic
candidates for congressional nomination, in
the primaries which in these States are
tantamount to election, since Republican
victory is virtual impossibility.
Welcome Trial at Polls.
The States Fighters say they would vel
come trial OF strength at the polls if the
Truman Fair Dealers will only put candi-
dates In the field, particularly in Mississippi.
Alabama, Louisiana and South Carolina and
indeed, in the other States. They believe
that Mr.. Truman has lost strength rather
than gained it in their section of the country.
More particularly are they eyeing with in.
tereSt the political situation in South Caro-
lima, where Senator Johnston comes I'D for
denomination and there has been a general
belief that Gov. Thurmond would oppose
him. decision in this matter is expected
soon after the first of the year. Also the
States Fighters have been encouraged by
the attack which former Secretary of State
James r. Byrnes has made on the "statism"
OF the truman administration and its pro-
gram Mr.. Byrnes' suggestion, too, that he
might be 1mpelled to run for Governor next
year on an anti-statism platform has given
them lift
Inc announced intention Of the admin
lStration leaders that they intend to seek
passage In the Senate, almost at the start
OF the January session Of Congress. of the
Fair Employment Practices bill has served
to stir the States Fighters to further ac-
tivity. The drive by the administration for
enlS measure Will not make its path In the
South any easier next year.