Evening star., 1953-11-10
The Political Mil
Second Session Faces
Thorny FEPC Problem
Democrats Muy CopitoEize
On Republicans Efforts
By Gould Lincoln

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sion of the 83d Congress growing
issue, particularly a national FEPC
measure, will force itself to the front.
President Eisenhower, during the 1852
campaign and since he entered the
White House, has consistently ranged
himself in favor of nti-diScrimination.
He has, in fact, through executive Or
der, done much to see that there shall
be no discrimination in Government
service and on Government contracts
because of race. color or creed.
There has been no indication so far,
however, whether the administration
will get back of national compulsory
FEPC and make it part of the admins
tration legislative program. During
speech delivered in Newark during the
campaign the President spoke firmly
for fair treatment of all workers, with
out discrimination. At the same time
he spoke with favor of steps taken by
ii States to prevent discrimination. He
also mentioned "the impossible handi-
cap Of Federal compulsion."
Republican Problem.
The issue Of national FEPC is filled
with political dynamite. The strong
inSiStence of former President Truman
that Congress should enact a Federal
FEPC law was major factor in both
the 1948 and 1852 presidential cam
paignS. The Democratic candidates in
both elections each lost four Southern
States. Gen. Eisenhower ran more
successfully in the South than any
other Republican candidate except
Herbert Hoover in 1928 when the reli-
gious issue tore the Democratic Party
wide open. II the Eisenhower admins
tration should now support Federal
FEPC. the Republican Party, which
has been trying to build up in the
South, would face the loss of prestige
and advantage which it developed in
1852 in that area.
Senator Ives, Republican, Of New
York, with bipartisan group of 18
other Senators, has introduced an
FEPC bill. Hearings on the measure,
however. were delayed until next jan
uary. The prospect now is for begin
ming the hearings the second or third
week after Congress meets, When
member of the New York Legislature,
Senator Ives fathered the New York
State discriminate bill which be-
came law there in 1945. The pending
bill is the same as the bill introduced
in the 82d Congress by Senator Ives
and Senator Humphrey, Democrat, OF
Minnesota. It provides for administra-
tion in various areas of the country and
for mediation and conciliation in deal
ing with discrimination cases. It
carries, however. compulsory features in
the final stages which may be enforced
through the central agency in Washing
ton. There has been little sign that the
measure will receive the favor Of SEN
ators and Representatives from the
South. however.
While the supporters of the bill may
be able to have it reported to the Sem
ate, there seems small chance that it
can be brought to vote. 1t is now be-
fore civil rights subcommittee Of the
Senate Committee on Labor and Pub
lie Welfare. Senator Ives is chairman
of the subcommittee and the other
members are Senators Aiken of Ver-
mont and Griswold of Nebraska. Re-
publicans, and Senators Douglas Of
Illinois and Lehman Of New York,
Democrats.
Heavy Program on Tap.
A great difficulty in obtaining action
on such a bill lies in the fact that the
coming session of Congress will have
a tremendous program before it. run
ming from tax legislation to national
defense. Already Southern Democratic
Senators are preparing to oppose vote
on the measure, and will use, it is said,
the f1libuster to its ultimate degree to
stall off action. The Senate has never
in the past been able to push through
a civil rights measure to vote because
of Southern filibusters. Of all the civil
rights program, the FEPC has now the
strongest opposition. So, the chances
for such legislation in the coming ses-
sion appear remarkably dim. 1t takes
a two-thirdS vote of the entire Senate
membership-64 of the SO Senator'S
to impose cloture.
Democrats figure, and probably
rightly. that serious effort on the part
OF the Republicans to break a Southern
Democratic f1libuster in order to get
action on an FEPC bill will do more to
solidify the Democratic Party than any
other thing-excepting a strong per-
sonal appeal by Gen. Eisenhower him.
self for the enactment of the FEPC
bill. They will welcome the issue if it
is INDEPENDENTLY in view of the
coming congressional elections. The
Republicans elected one Representative
from North Carolina and three from
Virginia in the Eisenhower sweep last
year. The Democrats are counting on
winning back all four of those seats
in their drive to control the 84th Con-
gress which will be elected in November,
1854. They are convinced that this
task will be made materially easier if
the g. P. in Congress and the White
House tries to push through FEPC.