Evening star., 1951-10-21
Beat Truman
By Don Whitehead
Associated Press Stoff Writer

Associated Press Stoff Writer
A beat Truman movement led
by powerful Dixie Democrats al
ready is gaining headway through
out the Southland even though
President Truman has given no
hint he will seek another term in
the White House.
This political uprising can hard
ly be written off as just another
"Dixiecrat" rebellion with no more
steam behind it than the one
which cost Mr.. Truman 80 Elec-
i toral votes in the 1948 election.
This time the fires of political
revolt are being tended by men
who have not only great influence
through the South-but men
whose names are known across
the Nation. Whether it could
achieve greater results than the
148 state-righters is a question
for he future.
Even though the Democratic
national convention is nine months
distant. the South's anti Truman
forces are cropping toward a way
either to deny Mr.. Truman the
party nomination, or-failing that
to block him in winning another
term.
Organization Not Yet Solid:
These are facts and conclusions
drawn from a trip through seven
Southern States and talks with
Senators, Governors. political
leaders, editors. businessmen and
others from all walks of life.
This beat Truman" movement
has not yet developed a solid or
ganization. Neither is the strate-
ey clearly defined. But the direc-
ton is clear and the effort already
is underway to pull the various
State parts into a whole.
Whether it will ever succeed is
a point of dispute even among
Southern leaders. So far, the
pro- Truman forces for the most
part are sitting on the Sidelines
waiting to see what happens but
determined to keep the South on
the side of the party nominee.
The "anti" leadership is coming
from Senator Byrd of Virginia and
Gov. James F. Byrnes of South
Carolina. both bitter political foes
of the President. They are in
close touch with other leaders in
the South who are looking to them
to call the signals.
Some sort of working organiza-
tion may begin to develop next
month. Prominent Southerners
are being invited to journey to
Selma, Ala, on November l where
Senator Byrd is scheduled to ad-
dress an Alabama farm group.
This meeting has taken on grow
ing Importance, with some signs
1t may be the kickoff in the beat
Truman" drive.
Hot Springs Meeting.
The picture is likely to become
clearer, too, after the Southern
Governors Conference in. mid
November at Hot Springs. Ark
One governor said; Il believe
you'll see the anti-Truman pat
tern begin to take definite form
after the Selma and Hot Springs
meetings"
Three years ago, Mr.. Truman
lost all the electoral votes of Ala.
bama, Louisiana, Mississippi ano
South Carolina. plus one vote
from Tennessee. The votes went te
the States Rights Presidential
candidate j. Strom Thurmond o1
South Carolina.
The 1948 States Fighters Re-
billion lacked the support Of the
South's top-ranking political lead
ers. But indications at this time
are that there will be no such lack
next year if Mr.. Truman Is
Democratic flag bearer.
This is being made clear by
Southern Democratic leaders in
Washington and others in Ala
baina, Georgia, Louisiana. Mis-
sissipDi, Texas. Tennessee and
Florida-moSt of whom expect
Mr.. Truman to run again.
The states right movement
three years ago was regarded even
by most of the South as a splinter
third party" movement outside
the regular ranks of the Demo-
cratic Party.
But the new strategy of anti
Truman forces may be an effort