Evening star., 1951-02-27
The Political Mill
The Political Mill
6. O. P.-Dixie Coalition
Suggested for 1852
Mundt Says Plan Would Holt
Trend Toward Socialism
By Gould Lincoln


By Gould Lincoln
Senator Mundt Of South Dakota has
come forward with the latest plan to
unite the conservative Democrats Of the
South-the anti Truman. anti Fair Deal
Democrats-with the Republicans to
nominate and elect presidential and
vice presidential candidates in 1852. By
such course, the South Dakota Senator
insists. it will be possible to halt the
country's present march toward national
socialism.
He has suggested that, for this pur-
pose. the coalitionists nominate for
presidential Office Taft of Ohio. Byrd
Of Virginia. Eisenhower OF New York
or Russell of Georgia: that the nomi-
nations be made in Republican National
Convention, held next year after the
Democratic Convention-where he ex-
poets President Truman to be renomi-
mated. He suggests. too. that Southern
Democrats send representatives to the
Republican Convention to talk turkey"
to the Republicans about the desirability
of nominating candidates and writing
a platform acceptable to the South and
consistent with It's historic concepts"
Anti-Truman Southern Democrats
pick one proposal out Of the Mundt
plan and say that 1t might work-that
is the nomination by the Republicans
of Gen. Eisenhower.
Gen. Eisenhower, said one Of their
leaders, would carry nearly all of the
Southern States If he were running
against President Truman, It seems
pretty clear, however, that unless South
ern Democrats with the stature of Sena.
tors Byrd of Virginia, Eastland Of Mis-
sissippi, Russell and George Of Georgia.
Connally of Texas and Mcclellan Of Ar
kansas can be persuaded to join whole
heartedly to promote the rest Of Sena-
tor Mundt's program, that program
will not make successful progress.
Vote With Republicans.
Many Of these leading Democrats may
and do-vote with Republicans against
parts Of the Truman program. Up to the
present, however, they are not likely
to join in a formal political coalition
with the COP. How they would react
to denomination Of President Truman.
or to the nomination Of another Fair
Dealer of the Truman stripe, intent on
getting an FEPC law through Congress.
probably will await such q nomination
National Convention.
The guessing contest-over q Truman
presidential candidacy-is in full swing
Some of the Democratic Senators recall
a comment made by Mr.. Truman at O
farewell dinner they gave at the Capitol
for former Senator Lucas Of Illinois,
who had been. until last January, the
majority leader Of the Senate. The
President said in effect there are only
two ways man is separated from pub
lie Office. The first is by death, and the
second, by vote Of the people. The
inference they drew from this Truman
comment was that. II he lived. Mr..
Truman would be candidate for re-
election next year.
It is obvious that should Mr.. Truman
decline to run again, the Southerners
will do their best to get a Democratic
candidate for President more acceptable
to them-and alif they can do so, the
jig will be up, 50 far as any coalition
with Republicans is concerned.
The effort of the Truman Democrats.
acting through the Democratic National
Committee, to lash or to persuade the
anti-Truman Southern Democrats back
into line since the 1948 election has
not had happy results. In Mississippi,
for example, charges are now made that
the mississippi Democratic Party" or its
representatives, recognized by the Demo-
cratic National Committee in Washing
ton, has been selling, for hard cash. vari.
Gus Federal jobs in that State.
Thorough Investigation Demanded.
Senators Eastland and Stennis have
demanded that these charges be thor
oughly investigated by Senate COM
mittee. Further. they express entire con-
fidence that the charges, or some Of
them, are true and that a mess of cor
ruption will be upturned when the pro-
posed inquiry is made.
Chairman William Boyle of the Demo-
cratic National Committee was quick
to come forward with q statement that
he and his committee would cooperate
In uncovering corruption and condemn
1t should corruption be found. He fol-
lowed this by ousting the acting Demo-
cratic National Committee member in
Mississippi The Democratic National
Committee declined to recognize the reg
ularly elected Democratic National Com
mittee members of Mississippi, because
they belonged to the States Rights, anti
Truman faction which carried MisSis-
sippi for Thurmond in 1948
Patronage has been withheld from
anti Truman. anti-Fair Deal Southern
Democrats in Congress, too-and some
times it has been given them. And still
the working coalition between the
Southern Democrats and Republicans
in Congress appears to be stronger and
more effective than ever.