Evening star., 1950-07-06
The Political Mill
Fair Dealers Watch
South CoroIino Ruce
Thurmond, Byrnes Offer
DoubIe-BorreIed Threut
By Gould Lincoln

COLUMBIA, S. c., July 6.-South
Cardinals Democratic primaries next
Tuesday have peculiar interest for the
Truman Fair Deal, especially as Demo-
cratic nominations for Office in this State
are tantamount to election.
First, in the Senate race: Here Gov. j.
Storm Thurmond, pet enemy of Presi-
dent Truman, is running against incum-
bent Senator Olin Johnston. If Gov.
Inurmond should win, he will be new
tnorn in Fair Deal flesh in Washington.
second, former Secretary of State
James F. Byrnes, declared enemy of
practically all Of the Fair Deal program,
which ne insists is carrying the country
down the road to State socialism and
bankruptcy, is candidate for Governor.
Should Mr.. Byrnes win, Mr.. Truman can
look Tor no support from the South Car
DINA delegation at the 1852 Democratic
National Convention, provided Mr.. Tru-
man is candidate for denomination, as
he is now expected to be.
Confident of One Hit.
The anti-Truman Democrats are point
ing this double-barreled shotgun at the
Chief Executive. If they miss fire with
one barrel, they are confident they will
surely hit with the other.
II Gov. Thurmond and Mr.. Byrnes
both win. the cumulative effect of the
South Carolina primaries and those in
Florida and in North Carolina win be
severe, so far as the Fair Dealers are
concerned.
The Thurmond supporters here are de-
lighted that Senator Graham was de-
feated by Willis Smith in the North Car
olina senatorial primary, and they got q
real kick out Of the defeat of Senator
Pepper OF Florida by Representative
Smathers. Those were the only two
Senators from the States of the ''Solid
South" who were suspected of being
lukeworm in opposition to the Truman
civil rights, anti-segregation program.
Gov. Thurmond, they figure, if he goes
to the Senate, will be even more severe
against the Truman program than is
Senator Johnston.
Democratic Nomination.
This year Gov. Thurmond, who was
the States Rights presidential candidate
for President in 1948 and as such has
not been recognized as Democrat" by
President Truman, is running for the
straight Democratic senatorial nomina-
ton. Personally, this does not make
Gov. Thurmond any more acceptable to
the President. But Mr.. Truman has said
recently he will support regularly NOM
mated Democratic candidates. That
would seem to include Gov. Thurmond,
the man the President has snubbed both
at the time Of his Inauguration and, re-
Gently, when he failed to invite Mr..
Thurmond with other Democratic Gov
ernors to lunch at the Blair House.
Whether Mr.. Truman gives Gov.
Thurmond the White House blessing or
not. the Governor. if elected to the Sem
ate, will be taken into the Democratic
organization of that body as Democrat.
He makes it clear in his campaign
speeches that he does not expect favors
from Mr.. Truman.
He tells his audiences, my opponent,
Senator Johnston, Is content with get
ting few crumbs for South Carolina
from Truman's Pendergast table. When
I am elected Senator, instead of begging
a few crumbs. I'll get whole slice for
you from Congress it's Congress
which passes the laws and enacts the
appropriation bills, not the President"
Byrnes' Potent Voice."
In some measure, ByrneS victory in
South Carolina may be more devastating
to the Fair Dealers than victory for
Gov. Thurmond. Mr.. Byrnes, as Gov
ernor, will become potent voice
throughout the South. where he is highly
regarded for his attainments and his
abilities.
Last November, addressing the con-
ference of Southern Governors at Biloxi.
Miss, he verbally tore the shirt off the
Truman Fair Deal. His speech beyond
doubt helped to strengthen the opposi-
ton to the Truman program during the
present session of Congress. Mr.. Byrnes
is using that speech in his present cam
paign, changing and modifying it to
meet various occasions.
A sentence or two from that address
is enough to indicate how Mr.. Byrnes
hits the Fair Deal in its tenderest parts.
For example, "Our real trouble is debt
and taxes. We cannot cure it by more
debt and more taxes. We should devote
to cutting expenditures some of the
thought we are devoting to taxing and
borrowing" And again: 1--WE are threat
ened with the concentration in WASH
ington of the powers of local govern
ments, including the police powers, and
with the imposition of creeping, but ever
advancing, socialistic programs"