The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-07-22
CONVENTION
n NOTES
BY LEROY A. SIMS
And WARREN ROGERS JR.

And WARREN ROGERS JR.
CHICAGO R - A new Southern
revolt threat, kindled by the Dem
ocratic conventions adoption of q
party loyalty pledge, posed posi-
bilities Of greater import today
than the Dixie bolt of 1913.
In their losing battle against the
pledge, Southern delegates argued
in convention debate early today
it might cause the loss of six
states.
The six-Florida, Georgia, Lou.
isiana, Mississippi, South Carolina
and Virginia-have 50 electoral
votes among them. It takes only
266 electoral votes to be elected
President and traditionally-the
last election was big exception
all of these states 50 go to the
Democratic candidate.
The 1913 rebellion cost the Dem
ocratic nominee, President Tru-
man, a total of 80 electoral votes
in four Southern states but Mr..
Truman won without them. The
four-Aabama, Louisiana, Missis-
sippi and South Carolina-went to
the States Rights ticket headed
by former Gov. ]. Strom Thur
mond Of South Carolina.
Hence, the stake in any South
ern bolt this time is bigger-two
more states and 20 more electoral
votes.
The pledge battle overshadowed
the fight for contested delegates
in Texas and Mississippi. It was
not clear if it would affect the
seating dispute, now working its
way through committees.
Texas and Mississippi delegates,
seated temporarily, agreed volun-
tarily not to vote on any delegate
contests. This averted a fight such
as split the Republican convention
two weeks ago.
Whether a 1852 revolt, If it
should come-and there were no
outward signs that the six states
were getting together-would fol-
low the 1s4S pattern was anybody's
guess.
But there were at least two par
allels:
/. The underlying issue, civil
rights, was the same.
2. Most of the same states-and,
in instances, the same men-were
involved.
The South's basic argument Is
that racial matters should be han
died by the states. II especially
objects to any compulsory Fair
Employment Practices Commits
sion (FEPC). which it contends
would blanket the South with fed
eral enforcement agencies.
A platform plank on civil rights
pegged to FEPC touched off the
1913 revolt. Northern civil rights
enthusiasts this time are calling
for an even stronger stand.
Negro population in many South
ern states is more than 80 per
cent of the total. In dozens Of
Southern counties, Negroes out
number withstand in some by
proportions Of two or three to one.
The pledge adopted by the con-
vention over Southern protests
that delegates work for election
Of the nominees chosen by the
National Convention--goes back Ia
the 1913 hubbub.
In the 1913 election, Alabama,
Louisiana, Mississippi and South
Carolina marked their ballots un
der the regular Democratic EN-
blem. But those popular vote.
were counted for the States Rights
ticket and that's the way hey were
cast in the Electoral College.
Within limits, elections are con
Quoted under state laws. These
statutes vary from state to state
but generally give FUN authority &c
party governing bodies within the
state.
That's the insurgents ace In the
hole.
This makes II possible for a
Mississippi Democrat. for instance
to maintain party regularity We,
vote for q nominee other than the
one picked by the National Con.
vention.
| In 1s4s, the States Rights Demo.
Gratis nominated their own ticket
In . convention at Birmingham
Ala, held after the regular Dem.
ocratic convention al Philadelphia
The States Fighters move was
seen as bid for enough electoral
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