Evening star., 1951-11-04

lconvention next July and contro
of State organizations.
The basis for the widespread
Southern opposition is Mr.. Tru.
mans stand for Federal legisla.
tion to deal with lynching, segre.
cation. poll taxes and racial dis.
elimination questions. Piled or
top Of this are the RFC loar
scandals. high taxes. complaint.
of waste in Government. etc.
But with this anti-Truman feel.
ing and Eisenhower sentiment
there are those who give a con.
lstant warning along the way,
Don't underestimate that mar
in the White House"
Eisenhower's Views Unknown.
One Southern Senator put il
this way: There's no doubt Ike
would give the Democrats trouble
plenty of it. But don't forget
that when he begins to take q
stand on major issues-then he
begins to lose friends.
Everybody can afford to be
for Ike now-because they don't
know where he stands. He hasn't
been forced to make any political
enemies. He's been a figure on
Mount Olympus. Once he steps
down from the mount. then he
becomes a politician and subject
to political attack"
Another Southerner said: "The
opposition to Truman is primarily
from those who are groaning be-
cause they have to pay higher
taxes.
'The mass Of people in the
South are living better than they
ever have before. The one-gallus
farmers have more money in Their
pockets. When they go to the
polls. they'll hesitate to leopard
ize what they have"
Another said: "The Democrats
in the South right now are plan
ming to cut their own party's
throat just to beat Truman. But
I think-when the time comes
we'll put the razor back in oui
pocket and go along with Truman
even If we don't like him. Voting
Democratic is too much of a habit
to break"
Southern Picture Confused.
Whatever Gen. Eisenhower does
is going to have tremendous
impact on the South and its poll
tical decisions.
The pattern of thinking below
the Mason-Dixon line runs some
thing like this:
II the presidential race is be-
tween Mr.. Truman and Senator
Taft - then anti administration
Southerners will concentrate on a
Beat Truman" campaign that
already has begun to take form
II the contest is between Mr.
Truman and Gen. Eisenhower
many of the South's leaders will
sit on the sidelines with the con-
viction Gen. Eisenhower is q GER
tain winner.
If Mr.. Truman should not seek
re-election-then the South would
fall In line solidly behind the
party nominee. &
At present. It's one Of the
"iffiest" situations in Southern po-
litical history. The picture won't
be clear until after the South
knows what to expect from both
Mr.. Truman and Gen. Eisenhower
Could Go Along With yinssn.
During this survey, Democratic
leaders voiced the hope time after
time that Mr.. Truman would not
run and that he would throw his
support to Chief Justice Vinsor
Of Kentucky. x
'Vinson could pun the South
together" one leader said. 1--WE
could 60 along with him" The
same thought was expressed b,
others. It's the only hope the,
see to avoid another revolt similar
the the States Rights rebellion In
the 1948 election.
This confusion among the Demo.
Gratis has given new hope to South.
srn Republicans who see a chance
70 strengthen their position.
This COP. optimism include,
hose who genuinely want a two.
,arty system in the South anc
,lso those who are interested
mainly in seeing the G. o. P. dea,
out the Federal patronage.
Virginia. Texas, Tennessee, North