Evening star., 1952-06-26
The Political Mill
aft Steps Into Middle
Of Segregation Dispute
Moy Strengthen Self in North
But Lose Delegates in South
By Gould Lincoln

Not long ago supporters Of Senator
Taft of Ohio for the Republican presi.
Dental nomination were saying the Sem
ator could carry several Of the States Of
the Democratic "solid South" Mr.. Taft
himself made the claim-and he made
it only few days ago when he said
that the Republicans had good chance
of carrying Virginia and Florida. and
perhaps North Carolina and another
State or two. Now, however, Senator
Taft has stepped into the middle of the
question of segregation of white and
colored children in Schools question
on which many Southerners have in
tense feeling. He has announced that he
favors doing away with such segregation
in the public schools of Washington,
D. c.. the Nations Capital, where segre-
cation exists by law.
If the Senator favors abolishing Segre-
cation Of races in the public schools Of
Washington it must follow that he per-
sonally favors the abolition of segrega-
tion in schools throughout the country.
Indeed, he commented that in Ohio seq.
regation in schools had been abolished.
With respect to the problem in other
States, Senator Taft said the question
should be handled by the States, with
the inference that it should not be dealt
with by the Federal Government. The
whole discussion, however, leaves him a
champion Of anti-segregation in the
schools, wherever the schools may be
located.
Point Made in Statement.
The point was made by Senator Taft
that Congress makes the laws for the
icf1 >fT al, hi t,.
greSS should do away with school Segre-
cation in the National Capital. For
20 years the Democrats have been
in power here. he commented. and have
done nothing about abolishing segrega-
ton here. The people of the District
as well as the people in the Southern
States-may be led to believe that. If
Senator Taft is elected President, he will
take the lead in an effort to have segre.
cation in the schools here abolished.
1t would look as though Senator Taft
had abandoned hope of carrying any
of the Southern States, If he is the
Republican nominee for President. On
the other hand, he may be strengthen
ing himself-for the general election
in States Of the North and Middle West
where the Negro vote is large and may
be said to hold the balance of power.
President Truman and the Democrats
have held on to this Negro vote firmly
ever since the late President Franklin
D. Roosevelt in 1888 won over these
voters from their traditional adherence
to the Republican Party. He saw to
it that Government relief was provided >
for huge numbers of them during the
depression which held the country in its
grip in 1888,
Never Went Whole Route.
Senator Taft has never declared him.
self in favor of a Federal compulsory
FEPC. He has gone so far as to say
he would support voluntary" and
educational FEPC law. But until he
actually plunks for compulsory FEPC,
Nationwide. he will not be on all fours
with Democratic presidential nominee
who goes the whole route for the Tru-
man civil rights program. Gen. Eisen-
hover, Taft's principal opponent for
the Republican presidential nomination,
has taken position on FEPC similar
to that Of the Ohio Senator. but has
not discussed school segregation.
Senator Taft's pronouncement on the
abolition Of segregation in the schools
Of Washington was made almost on the
eve of visit to Charlottesville, Va.
to speak in the University of Virginia's
forum-and to meet and talk with
Virginia's delegates to the Republican
National Committee. Senator Taft has
claimed the great majority of these
Virginia delegates. How his pronounce
ment on segregation in the schools Of
the District of Columbia will set with
the delegates is q guess.