Evening star., 1950-01-17
The Political Min
Byrnes' Candidacy Slows
Truman Moves in South
Banner of States.Righters Raised
Higher on Eve of Party Farley
Bv Gould Lincoln

When former Secretary of State James r.
ByrneS announced last week he would be q
candidate for the Democratic nomination for
Governor Of South Carolina the banner OF
anti-Trumanism in the South was hauled
considerably higher. Mr.. Byrnes, O severe
critic of President Truman's program-Fair
Deal and Civil Rights alike-is regarded as
a sure winner. when the primary rolls around
next July. Nomination by the Democrats 10
equivalent to election in South Carolina.
Mr.. Byrnes Is 10 years old. He has held
the highest Offices in Government except
those Of President and Vice President-and
he believed he had been offered the latter
by the late President Franklin D. Roosevelt
In 1914. His present determination to re-
enter public life is for one purpose only-to
oppose the present trend Of the Democrats
Party, under Truman leadership toward
state socialism. AS Governor Of South Caro-
lima. Mr.. Byrnes will be In position to speak
with authority in the Southern wing of the
Democratic party-the wing which Is giving
Mr.. Truman great deal Of trouble
Timing Significant.
The announcement Of Mr. Byrnes' candi-
dacy did not come as a surprise. It had
been expected by many Democrats in South
Carolina. 1t came. however. almost on the
eve of the Southern Regional Conference.
promoted by the followers Of President Tru-
January 28 The timing Of Mr.. Byrnes'
statement of candidacy was significant. Fur
thermore, any attempt to read MIR. Byrnes
out of the Democratic Party, should 1t be
made would have an adverse effect through
out the South
Mr.. Byrnes has, to all intents and pur-
poses, said to the Southern Democrats IN
Congress: Hold firm In opposition to this
Truman program during the present session
- ha1,N han ND
it will be shown in the elections next fall"
Mr.. Byrnes service in Washington began
in 1911, when he entered the House. where
he remained for IA years. In 1881, he became
Senator Ten years later he was appointed
an associate justice of the Supreme Court, an
Office he resigned at the request Of President
Roosevelt to aid in the war effort as director
of the Office of Economic Sterilization and
then director of the Office Of War Mobiliza-
ton. President Truman appointed him Sec
retary Of State July 3, 1945.
Mr.. Byrnes' determination to run for
Governor may have its effect, too, on the
senatorial race in South Carolina. Gov.
Thurmond, the States Rights Democratic
candidate for President in 1948-he carried
four States against Mr.. Truman-is regarded
as certain to run against Senator Olin D.
Johnston. In such contest. the sympathies
if nothing more-of the Truman admins
tration would be against Gov. Thurmond,
who has declared his confidence that Mr..
Byrnes will be elected Governor.
15-State Conference.
Invitations to the Democratic regional con-
ference In Raleigh have been sent out by
Jonathan Daniels. editor and publisher OF
the Raleigh News and Observer. an assistant
to the late President Roosevelt and q stanch
supporter Of President Truman. Gov Thur
mond was not included in the list Of the
invited, nor was his running mate in 1948,
Gov. Wright of Mississippi. Gov. Long Of
Louisiana. whose State also went for Thur
mond against Truman, was invited, but
declined because he has a session Of the
State Legislature on his hands. Gov. Folsom
of Alabama, the fourth State which gave
Thurmond its electoral votes, has accepted
but he has been pro- Truman right along.
Fifteen States are included In this South
ern regional conference-"border" States like
Kentucky and Oklahoma have been added to
the solid South" Morning and afternoon
sessions of the conference will be held. dedi-
Gated to discussion of the South's problems
and to strengthening the party. The confer
ence will close with Jefferson-Jackson din
ner, at which Vice President Barley will be
the principal speaker.
The tug Of war between the anti Truman
and Truman Democrats in the South Is on in
earnest again-and the anti Truman, States
Rights Democrats insist they are stronger
In numbers than they were in 194s