Evening star., 1950-05-23
The Political Min
2-Yeor Convention Plan
Opposed by Party Chiefs
Political Science Proposal
Makes Little Heodwoy
By Gould Lincoin

A draft report circulated by a commit
tee of the American Political Science
Association. proposing that the two major
political parties hold national conven-
tiops at least once every two years
instead Of four years-and proposing
disciplinary steps to compel members OF
Congress to follow the exact party line
in voting on legislation. makes little
headway 1t appears. with practical po-
htical leaders In Congress.
The political party which has q PreSi-
dent in the White HouSe-whether Dem.
ocrat or Republican-haS q directing
head. and usually that head does not
feel any need Of being told what 70 do by
a party convention halfway through his
term of office. A Democratic National
Convention. for example. In l946. might
have undertaken to tell President Tru-
man a number of things he might not
have appreciated. Mr. Truman. and his
personally directed Through National
Chairman William Boyle, jr0 Democratic
National Committee are free TO do q lob
Of propagandizing for the Truman pro-
gram-and an elected Democratic Ma
ttonal Convention this year might put a
real crimp in the Presidents proposals
for national health insurance and for the
Brannan farm plan. and certainly would
have increased the opposition in the
South to the Presidents demand for a
Federal FEPC law.
Handpicked Gathering.
AS things stand. Mr.. Truman and
Chairman Boyle have recently staged a
handpicked Democratic gathering in
Chicago-which virtually wrote q party
platform-but only along the lines sug-
gested by President Truman. A couple
OF dissenting voices were audible-one
that Of Jonathan Daniels of North Caro-
lima against the Presidents FEPC pro-
poSal. and the other that Of National
Committeeman Robbins of Arkansas
against the national health insurance
plan. Mr.. Daniels, a great friend Of the
President, voiced his opposition to the
FEPC bill to help out Senator Graham
OF North Carolina. who Is battling for
his political life there this week. Com
mitteeman Robbins is a physician.
The CIO-PAC halls this Democratic
meeting and its action as new idea in
American politics"-the notion that a po-
lltical party should adopt a platform
every two years-perhaps without having
heard Of the proposal Of the Political
Science Association. 1t is fact, however,
that no one was elected to a convention
that office holders, plus members OF
the Democratic National Committee.
some Democratic Governors and other
party workers, constituted the "coven-
ton" and did the job.
For the political party out Of power.
national convention every two years
might be more acceptable. Such q party
has no directing head-and Senator Taft
OF Ohio. chairman of the Republican
Policy Committee Of the Senate and a
dominant figure in the party In Congress.
Is inclined to see some virtue In the plan
Lucas Takes Dim View.
Senator Lucas of Illinois, Democratic
Leader OF the Senate. on the other hand,
takes a very dim view of It, Senator
Byrd OF Virginia is fatty against the
proposal.
AS for the recommendation that party
discipline be increased and the whip
cracked over the backs of party members
who DO not vote right down the line for
the party legislative program-presum.
ably that advanced by the President
Senator Lucas and Senator Taft are both
opposed on the ground that 1t would not
only break down all independence on
the part Of members Of Congress but
would cause bitter warfare. Senator Byrd
thinks nothing whatever of the plan.
which would deny to Senators and Rep
resentatives committee chairmanships
ana other favors II they did not vote
right
The political scientists. also, would cut
the size Of the national conventions down
from about 1,100 to 500 or 6O0-350 to
be elected, and $50 to be ex-oficio mem
oers chosen from the national commit.
tee. State chairmen. congressional lead
ers. etc. The politicians do not approve
this. The method Of electing candidates
as at present is good enough for them.
Senator Taft. however, takes the view
tnat the national committees might be
strengthened under new plan of elec-
tion. At present, members of the ma.
uonal committees are chosen by each
otate delegation to a national conven.
ton at the time Of the convention.