Evening star., 1950-05-18
The Political Mill
Daniels ToIk in Chicago o
Stirs Democratic Feurs
FePC Bill Hit at Conelove
Ru GannAnr G.h.-I. R.L
BY Senator Grohom's Boeker
By Gould Lincoln

SGu0tO StuUOH oOSkST
By Gould Lincoln
When Jonathan Daniels, a principal
hacker Of Senator Graham for renorni.
nation in the North Carolina Democrats
senatorial primary on May 81. insisted
last Sunday on attacking compulsory
FEPC legislation at the big Chicago JEFF
ferson Jubilee, politicians pricked up
their ears. Senator Graham, during the
present campaign, has been under attack
on the race issue. and has been charged
with not being firm enough in opposi.
ton to q Federal fair employment prae-
tices bill.
Mr.. Daniels outspoken criticism of the
Truman FEPC bill, delivered at the Demo-
cratic conclave which had been set up
in Chicago for advancing the whole Tru-
man program. got the headlines all over
the country-and In North Carolina,
where Mr.. Daniels publishes the Raleigh
News and Observer. The Daniels speech
was interpreted as an effort to convince
Democratic voters in North Carolina that
Senator Graham was on the right"
side OF FEPC. Further. 1t seemed to re-
feet some diSQuietude over the results
of the coming election.
Would Be Blow to Deal
A Graham defeat would be q serious
blow to the Truman Fair Dealers. ES-
pecially in North Carolina. which Of all
the Southern States has been considered
more nearly in sympathy with the Tru-
man program. The State never faltered
for moment in l94S in its support Of
the election Of President Truman. The
DlxiecratS movement made practically
no dent there. When the votes were
counted. President Truman had 459, ,o70,
Governor Dewey 258572, and Governor
Thurmond of South Carolina. the States
Rights candidate. only 69.652. 1t would
be a serious blow because Willis Smith
a former president of the American Bar
Association, and former Senator Bob"
Reynolds opponents of Senator Graham
in the primary. have campaigned against
the Truman program. as we'll as against
the liberal Senator Graham.
Senator Graham, at the outset Of the
campaign, seemed a sure winner-and
he may still be. He had for years been
president Of the University of North Caro-
lima. with warm friends in all parts Of
the State. The campaign pressed against
him, however, has been a copy of that
made against Senator Pepper in Florida
by Representative Smathers. Senator
u, u
very liberal ideas and statements in the
past on both the red" and the "black"
issues, just as was Senator Pepper.
The race for the senatorial nomination
seems to be between Senator Graham
and Willis Smith-whom the Graham
supporters describe as corporation
lawyer" Mr.. Reynolds campaign has
not really gone we'll and he is regarded
ilyaIxt tNI tvNay&n tatA
question is whether Senator Graham can
get a majority of the votes cast In the
primary. If he fails. under the State law.
there will be a runoff election on June
"a. between the two candidates receiving
the greatest number of votes. A runoR
election. even Graham supporters admit,
might be serious for the Senator.
Ill in a Raleigh Hotel.
So gravely have some Of the admins.
tration Democrats now come to consider
the North Carolina race. it is reported.
they urged Senator Graham not to vote
for the motion to apply the Senate
cloture rule on the proposal to take up
the FEPC bill for consideration. They
feared that such. vote might ruin his
chances-and they were fearful he might
take the position. even II he did not
approve compulsory FEPC, that the issue
should be allowed to come to a vote in
the Senate. Senator Graham has been
i'll and confined to his bed in a Raleigh
hotel and is not expected to be here for
the cloture vote tomorrow. One Of the
arguments used against Senator Graham
was his membership on President Tru.
mans Civil Rights Committee. which
made report in 1947, recommending
fhA Nf a,.At I,,.aA
and anti-poll tax and anti-segregation
laws by Congress.
The Truman Democrats are still
strongly in control in party matters in
North Carolina, as evidenced by a re-
cent Democratic State convention which
adopted resolution commencing those
North Carolina delegates to the 1943
Democratic National Convention who re-
manned in the hall and voted for Mr..
Truman. This undoubtedly is q help to
Senator Gral,cm m, who has the backing.
too. Of Governor Scott, who appointed
him to fill the vacancy created by the
death Of Senator Broughton.
The outburst Of Mr.. Daniels in Chi
cago against the Presidents EEfC bill
was painful surprise to the adr. So
trationists. because 1t brought in a dis
cordant note from q strong supporter Of
Mr.. Truman. who had worked as q writ
ing aid to Mr.. Truman in the campaign
two years ago. 1t was Mr. Daniels. too.
who staged the Southern Democratic
conference In Raleigh last January in
an effort to demonstrate party unity
but no mention Of civil rights was per-
mitted at that gathering.