Evening star., 1952-07-22
Here's How Delegates
Adopted Loyalty Rule
Over South S Protest
BY J. A. O'LeoY
Star Sfoff Correspondent

CHICAGO, July 22.-The Dem
ocratic convention early today
adopted a loyalty pledge" rule in
the face of warnings from the
South that it may endanger party
success in November.
The rule was shouted through
without roll call at 2 am. (Chi-
cago time) after a milder substi-
tute offered by Senator Holland
of Florida had been rejected byI
a voice vote.
It was the first clash between
the Northern and Southern wingSI
of the party, and may be followed
tomorrow by another contest over
the civil rights plank in the plat
form.
Sponsored by Senator Blair
Moody of Michigan, the new rule
provides that no delegate shall be
seated unless he gives assuranceE
to the Credentials Committee that
he will exert every honorableI
means available to him when he
goes home to see that the NOM
lneeS of this Democratic conven-
ton are placed on their State bal
lots under the democratic symbol.
Aimed at Southern States.
Although it applies to all 48
states. it was aimed at six South
ern States, which recessed their
State conventions instead of ad-
Journing, so that they could meet
and take further action in their
respective States after they see
the nominees and platform of the
national convention.
The liberal northern wing of
the party was determined on this
early showdown with the South
because Of what happened in 1948,
when four Southern States bolted
to a Dixiecrat ticket. and Ala
bama never did put the Truman
Barkley ticket on the ballot.
The Southern substitute rule.
which got nowhere, would merely
have stated that it was the con-
sensus of the convention that all |
delegates should support the ma
Jorlty decisions of the convention
here and hereafter"
The highlight of the debate
came when Senator Robertson of
Virginia predicted that Gov. Adlai
Stevenson would lose interest in
the presidential nomination if this
rule drives wedge between the
Northern and Southern groups in
the party.
Appeals for Delay.
Senator Robertson pleaded ini
vain that the vote be put off uni
til this afternoon to give delegates
time to reflect on its possible ef-
fects.
"You and I know divided
Democratic Party cannot beat
Gen. Eisenhower" the Virginia
Senator said. IF you pass this
rule you will eliminate two good
candidates for the presidential
nomination-Senator Russell of
Georgia and Gov. Stevenson of
Illinois,"
He was interrupted by cries of
mo" from the hall, but he went
on:
You say no. but you are going
to drive out of this convention1
Eeven Southern States. And when
you do that you couldn't hand
this nomination to Gov. Steven
son on gold platter, much less
a silver platter. You have the |
power to make this nomination
worthless"
Another dramatic moment in
the debate came when Senator
Moody introduced Representative
Franklin D. Roosevelt, jr., of New
York, as the son of a great father.
to make the final argument for
the rule. He got a tremendous
ovation.
Let me make it clear" he be-
gan, that no one here is trying
to run anybody out of the Demo-
cratic Party. We are here trying
to bring everybody into the party"
Attacks Holland Substitute.
Calling the Holland substitute a
wishy-washy, do-nothing Substi-
tute. Mr.. Roosevelt reminded the
delegates that this country oper-
ates on the principle of majority
rule.
Several Of the Southerners who
preceded him had argued that
their State laws would not permit |
them to take the proposed loyalty
pledge.
Mr.. Roosevelt said the rule does
not ask any delegate to break the
law, but only to use every honor
able means to see that the people
in every State get a chance this
year to vote for the Democratic
ticket. Mr.. Roosevelt insisted "the |
laws of your States do not pre-
vent you from putting the Demo-
cratic nominees on your ballots.
Mr.. Roosevelt closed by predict
ing that if the voters in every
State get the opportunity to cast
their ballots for the Democratic
ticket there will be another gen.
eral in November who faded
away"
The son of the former President
declared that if there is a division
IN the party as a result of this
rule, it will have been brought
about by those who have oues-
tionS in their minds about the
right of the majority to place be-
fore the voters the candidates oil
the convention.
The Southerners tried in vain