Evening star., 1949-08-19
Southern Democrats
Wonder if Boyle Plans !!
Get-Tough Policy
By the Assoeioted Press

tough policy at the hands OF VIII
liam Boyle, jr., scheduled for
election as the partys national
chairman.
Their interest in this situation
was stimulated by President Tru-
mans broad hint at his news
conference yesterday. This was
to the effect that the President
backs fully the decision to deny
Southern members a chance to
vote on Mr.. Boyle if they fol-
lowed the States rights banner
last November. Alabama, .Missis-
sippi, Louisiana and South Caro-
lima were the boiling States.
Mr.. Boyle has been picked by
the President to succeed Senator
McGrath of Rhode Island, con-
f1rmed by the Senate yesterday
to succeed Tom c. Clark as At
torney General.
Senator McGrath has called the
Democratic National Committee
to meet here Wednesday to pick
his successor as chairman.
See Patronage Trouble.
In the same announcement,
Senator McGrath said he was not
47viting some Southern members
Who didn't support the President
last year because of his demand
for civil rights legislation. Some
Southern lawmakers think the
change of chairmen will mean
trouble for them on patronage
and other matters.
Senator McGrath has taken the
role Of peacemaker in efforts to
bring the badly-split segments Of
the party together before. the 1850
congressional and 1852 presiden-
tial campaigns.
As a member Of the Senate,
Senator McGrath has dealt di-
rectly with lawmakers on patron
age matters. Mr.. Boyle, on the
other hand, has kept closer White
House contacts than Senator Nc
Grath.
It's a poorly kept secret that
the men Immediately around Pres
ident Truman don't want to COM
promise with the States Fighters.
They apparently don't think it is
necessary, on the basis of the
Presidents victory last Novem-
ber.
Neither, apparently. do they
think it wise in view of the sup
port they will be seeking in the
big cities and industrial areas
where they believe the Presidents
ideas about civil rights are very
popular.
May Have to Pledge Support.
Just what will happen, to, the
States Fighters who show up for
Wednesdays meeting isn't exactly
clear.
One important. Democratic Of
ficial said they will have to pledge
future support of regular Demo-
cratic nominees if they expect to
get by a credentials committee
headed by Frank McHale, Indiana
national committeeman. 3
The administration may have
difficulty. on the other hand. in
proving that some of the South
erners whose membership was
ratified at last years Philadelphia
convention aren't legally still mem
bers of the committee.
In some cases. pro-Truman men
and, women who are challenging
them will be hard put to prove
that they were chosen by anything
resembling a bona flde convention
In their home States.
Caroline Situation Confusing.
The situation in South Caro-
lima was confusing. After Gov.
J. Strom Thurmond. States
candidate for president
last November. had resigned as
national committeeman. Senator
Maybank was chosen in his place.
Ashton H. Williams withdrew
as a pro-Truman committeeman
In a move generally regarded as
an attempt to heal the wide breach
in the party ranks.
However, the pro-Truman forces
leaped back into the contest to-
day with a meeting in Columbia.
s. c., to select candidates for the
States two seats on the national
committee.
What effect it would have on
Senator Maybank's election was
not clear. He had said he would
accept if he was the unanimous
choice.
Two Ignored In Mississippi.
But the State convention said
he shouldn't take the place unless
the national committee agrees to
keep Mrs. Anne Agnew of Colum-
bia on as national committee
woman. She may be challenged
for that spot by Mrs. j. Richard
Allison, also of Columbia. No one
seemed to know just what would
happen in that case.
Democratic national headquar-
ters has been dealing in Missis-
sippi with a pro-Truman group
and ignoring j. B. Snider and
Mrs. Hermes Gautier, the nominal
members from that State.
Lawmakers here said there is
some doubt whether w. H. Talbot
and Miss Mary Evelyn Dickefson,
Louisiana members, will show up
for Wednesdays session.
Mrs. Lennard Thomas, Alabama
committeewoman, will be recog-
nized by the Truman group. Mar
ion Rushton. the committeeman
from that state, has resigned.