The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1952-05-15
To Our Fellow Democrats:

AZ SuA SiioW bGhoNAoAS'
In view of the confusion caused by the
varying reports of Senator Richard Rus
sells statement on the eve of the Florida
presidential popularity election, we feel
that Mississippi Democrats are entitled to
a Qualification of our position:
CD Our State Democratic Executive Com
mittee, by resolution, has endorsed
the candidacy of Senator Russell and
the literature now being used in its
information program states that
''Mississppi's delegation to the Ma
tional Convention will! support the
nomination of Senator Russell Of
Georgia as the Conventions candi-
date for President of the United
States so long as a majority of the
Mississippi delegation thinks this
action feasible under the circum-
stances"
(2) This endorsement was given in the
light of Senator RusselPs courageous
fight in the Congress against FEPC
and other vicious anti-Southern legis-
lation and his public statements that
If the national party platform con-
tanned a compulsory FEPC plank,
and he was the nominee, that he
would repudiate such a plank.
(3) An unbiased study of Senator Rus
sells statements in Florida does not
reveal any change in his stand on
these vital issues. He simply said
he would not bolt the convention in
any fight over FEPC, but would stay
there and fight all the way That is
exactly what Mississippi plans to do
"a The fact that his statements have
been enormously interpreted certain
ly does not eliminate him as a can
didate acceptable to Mississippi and
the South. Before passing final judg-
ment on Senator Russell we are sure
that all fair-minded Mississippians
will want to give him the benefit Of
every doubt and will await further
developments before reaching any
final conclusions. Qn Washington,
on May 9th, Senator Russell told re-
porters that "as the Democratic NOM
inee he would disavow any compul-
sorry FEPC plank written into the
party platform.")
(0 Since this situation has arisen it
is well for all Mississippians to real-
lie that the Democratic Party of our
state is FREQ and independent DO
lltlcal party and as such is fighting
for the sound principles of Jeffer-
sonlan Democracy and States rights.
Ours is fight for sacred principles
not fight for any one man.
co. Mississippi Democrats also surely
realize that their State Democratic
Convention on June 26th will make
its decisions as to conditions and can
didates in the light of events as they
then exist. Our State Convention
can, and it most surely will, take
such action as to Senator Russell and
any and all other candidates for the
nomination as it deems to the best
interest of Mississippi at that time
Cd The State Democratic Executive
Committee, by resolution, has created
a Peoples Campaign Committee
charged with the responsibility Of
forming an active and adequate or
ganization in every county to inform
every Democratic voter in Mississip-
pts 1867 precincts of the opportunity
Mississippi and the South have in
1852 to effectively use the balance
of political power that the South now
holds in the Democratic Party.
90 The Peoples CampAgn Committee
has been duly named md has such
program underway with the work
directed toward the securing of a
delegation from our state to the Ma
tlonal Convention composed only Of
loyal States Rights, Jeffersonian
Democrats that will stand, without
compromise, on the principles Of
constitutional government, States