Evening star., 1952-04-20
Southern Combination
Not Likely to Retreat
Writer Appraises Activity
In lnsureent Dixie
By Frank R. Kent

Since Mr.. Truman made his speech
of abdication' last month, many rea-
sons have been advanced for his de-
ciSion not to permit himself to be re-
nominated. Some of these have been
absurd some have been reasonable;
few convincing Here is man in good
health, who confeSSes to enjoy his Job
and concededly had the ability to re-
nominate himself, who firmly and ir-,
revocably declares himself out. Why?
The anti-Truman Democratic lead
ers in the South think they know the
answer. Their contention is that re-
flecting the sentiment of the South,
they had effected lineup behind Sem
ator Russell, of Georgia. that clearly
made it impossible for Mr. Truman
to be reelected. The President and
his more level-headed political advisers
realized this many weeks before he
made his announcement. 1t was then,
like any other practical POLITICIAN
fully aware of the facts-he decided
to quit. The mystery about what Mr..
Truman was going to do. these South
ern leaders say. was always phony He
knew exactly what he was going to do
on the day Dick" Russell announced
AAA0 ShAANANAoSS. All lllC LdIh Illo
health. his age, Mrs Truman's wishes
and his desire to lay down the burden
was utterly without foundation
The simple truth was that he quit
when he examined the strength of the
combination Senator Byrd of Virginia:
Senators George and Russell, of Geor-
gia; Gov. ByrneS of South Caro-
lima; Mr.. GeSsner McCorvey of Ala
bama and others had formed against
him and realized the fiXity of their de-
termination to fight him to the end.
Also he realized the vastly increased
popular sentiment against him through
out the South. Clearly, there was no
nourlshment in making hopeless fight.
And that say the Southern leaders,
was exactly what it would have been.
We they say, forced him out"
Certainly there is real basis for their
claim. Four years ago the opposition
was SO strong that four Southern States
Alabama, Louisiana. Mississippi and
South Carolina-caSt total of 80 cleo
toral votes Including one from Ten
nesSee' for an independent Democratic
candidate. Thirty EIGHT more votes
would have thrown the election into
the House of Representatives and de-
feated Mr.. Truman. who squeaked
through by the smallest margin of any
President in 30 years.
X
This time, 1t is agreed, not only was
the fight against Mr.. Truman better
organized and directed but popular
feeling against him in the South was
vastly greater. With the powerful and
respected Senator Russell as the anti
truman candidate. the conviction of the
leaders is that instead of four States.
with total of 38 electoral votes. Mr..
Truman. weakened by administration
corruption and other developments.
would have lost at least nine This would
have taken away more than a hundred
electoral votes from him as the regular
Democratic nominee. Obviously, Mr..
Truman could not possibly have secured
enough electoral votes outside of the
South to give him the 266 necessary for
election.
Practically every competent observer
and every poll taken in the Southern
States supports this view. The big ques-
ton now is-having forced Mr.. Truman
out, what will this well-organized South
ern combination do if the convention
nominates a candidate with Mr. Tru-
mans backing on platform indorsing
Mr. Truman'S policieS-including the
FEPC? To this, the reply is that,
while in the case of Senator Kefauver.
Gov. Stevenson (who has now taken
himself OUT or w. Averell Har-
rlman, the nomination of any one of
them would be less offensive to the
South than that of Mr. Truman there
would be no real difference so far as
policies are concerned AS one South
ern spokesman expressed it, there would
be no real change. So far as the
Messrs. Stevenson and Hartman are
concerned either would have the Tru-
man blessing. Also, either would be
lndorsed by the CIO labor bosses. who
have dominated the Democratic Party
for 16 years: by the bleeding hearts"
CT the Americans for Democratic
Action and by the Negro leaders who
press for a Federal FEPC.
Oh all these, the South has had about
all 1t can stand. With Mr. Truman
eliminated. its leaders would rather not
walk. out of the convention but if
the same sort of civil rights plank is
going to be forced on them and the rest
OF the platform is "SocialiStic" in it's
trend and the candidate is again hooked
up with the CIO. that is exactly what
delegations from considerably more than
four States may do. However" said
the spokesman, well wait and see The
South certainly is fed up with being
kicked around" Of course, 1t may be
that the compromise" on civil rights,
which some Senators are reported as
now attempting. may work out before
or at the convention. But the only way
compromise" can be effected is by a
retreat from the offensive Truman
Humphrey stand of 1948. There will be
no retreat on the part of the South.