Evening star., 1951-12-16

might simply emerge the choice
Iof individual state organization.
as the man to whom their SLATE
of electors would be pledged.
If the anti-Trumanites chose
they could hold a convention o.
their own and nominate Senator
Russell or any other candidate
But it still would be up to state
organizations, acting individually
to get his name on the ballot.
In the event that no candidate
for President got a majority ol
electoral votes, the Constitution
provides that the election be de.
lcided in the House of Representa-.
Itives. With each state allowed
only one vote under this proceed.
Iure, almost anything could hap.
pen.
Summary of Possibilities.
Here is State-by-state sum.
mary of the legal possibilities fol
putting an anti-Truman Demo
crat on the ballot:
Alabama-National party loyal
lists in control of Democratic ex.
Iecutive committee may attempt tc
bind electors to support nationa,
nominee. even before the primary
at meeting next month.
Arkansas - State Democratic
convention could enter slate ol
electors under Democratic label
but supporting someone othel
than Mr.. Truman. Electors run.
ming on regular Democratic ticket
could support someone other thar
Mr.. Truman since they are not
legally bound.
Florida-If Mr.. Truman is the
national party nominee. the State
Democratic Executive Committee
could not enter a slate of electors
supporting anybody but him
Electors are bound by oath. Gov
Fuller Warren recently led leaders
in cheering Mr.. Truman's name
at a party banquet.
Georgia-Gov. Herman Tai.
madge says the Georgia Demo-
cratic Party is autonomous and
can nominate it's own candidate
who does not have to be the can
didate of the national party. He
said he thinks this would keep
Mr.. Truman's name off the ballot
Louisiana - Democratic State
Central Committee is the party
governing body and names presl-
dental electors. 1t backed States
Rights ticket which won in Louis
lana in 1948. Committee could
replace electors who announce
they won't support its chosen can
didate for president.
Mississippi - The Democratic
Estates Rights Party has exclu-
sive right to the use of Demo-
crat" or Democratic" on the bal
lot. A slate of electors for Mr..
Truman might be entered, but
they would not appear under any
party label unless a new party
was organized from the ground up.
Electors Not Bound.
North Carolina-Electors are
bound morally, but not legally. to
vote for the party nominee and
there has been no deviation from
this in a generation. States Rights
party would carry a ticket or a
fourth party could be qualified
but neither would carry the DEM
ocratic label.
South Carolina-State Demo-
cratic convention could enter q
slate of electors pledged to sup
port someone other than Mr.. Tru-
man. State party regards itself as
independent of the national party
and in no way bound to accept the
national nominee. Gov. Byrnes
has come out against President
Truman's denomination.
Tennessee-State Democratic
convention could name a slate
OF electors supporting someone
besides Mr.. Truman. A States
Rights ticket, or some other
could get on the ballot.
Texas-Under new law. not
tested in the courts, the State
convention probably could enter
a slate Of electors under the Dem
ocratic label. but supporting some
other candidate than the nation
al conventions nominee. Electors
are free agents to vote
as they choose. Gov. Allan Shivers
working for uninstructed delega-
tion to Chicago convention. pre-
diets Mr.. Truman won't run again
Virginia-State Democratic con-
vention could enter slate of cleo
tors under party label pledged to
any candidate it chooses, without
regard to national conventions
action. Any party may get on the
Presidential ballot with a petition
OF 1000 names of qualified voters
Senator Byrd leading the fight
against President Truman's re-
nomination.