Evening star., 1954-05-19
South Must Judge
His Entire Record,
Eisenhower Declares
By Gould Lincoln

President Eisenhower told his
press conference today that
Southern voters who supported
him in 1852 would have to con-
slider his whole record in support
of good Government and deter
mine for themselves whether they
still support him.
The President spoke in answer
to an inquiry whether he thought
he had lost votes in the South
because of the Supreme Court
decision outlawing segregation in
the public schools. Some South
ern leaders before the Supreme
Court handed down its decision,
expressed an opinion that Gen.
Eisenhower's strength in that
section of the country would de-,
pend largely on what the court
did about school segregation. It
was predicted in some quarters
that if the court ruled against
segregation. the President could
not hope to carry any of the
Southern States in the future.
He won the electoral votes of
four Southern States in 1852, and
ran strongly in a number Of
others.
Praises Byrnes Statement.
The Chief Executive praised q
statement made by Gov. Byrnes
of South Carolina, calling for
calm and reason in dealing with
the situation created by the
Supreme Courts decision against
racial segregation. He was asked
If he thought the fact the deci-
sion was made under his admin
istration might put Gov. Byrnes
and other Southern Democrats
who supported him on the hot
seat politically. The President
replied, with some indignation,
that the Supreme Court is not
under any administration.
OF the nine members Of the
Supreme Court today, only one,
Chief Justice Warren, is an ap-
pointee of President Eisenhower.
The others were appointed By
the late President Roosevelt and
former President Truman. In
addition to the Chief Justice,
only one other member of the
court is a Republican. Associate
Justice Burton, who was a Sen
ator from Ohio and appointed to
the court by Mr.. Truman.
Another question asked the
President, with bearing on the
anti-segregation decision, was
whether he thought the Repub-
licans would have chance to
carry North Carolina next fall.
North Carolina will elect a Sem
ator to fill the vacancy caused
by the recent death of the late
Senator Hoey, Democrat. 1t also
will elect a successor to Senator
Lennon, Democrat, and its en-
tire House delegation, which in
cludes one Republican, Repre-
sentative Charles r. Jones of
the 10th district.
The President said in reply he
realized that North Carolina was
considered Democratic territory.
He added, however, that he had
been we'll received, and so had
his speech, during his visit to
Charlotte yesterday.
North Carolina has not voted
Republican since 1928, when for
mer President Herbert Hoover
carried it over the late Alfred
E. Smith.
Some Democrats are concerned
over the possibility that the
courts ruling may help the Re-
publicans in populous Northern
States with large congressional
delegations.
Senator Russell, Democrat, Of
Georgia and one of the most
outspoken critics of the decision,
agreed yesterday that the de-
ciSion could have political reper-
cusSions. But he did not agree
they would benefit the Re-
publicans exclusively. He ex-
pressed the belief that, as a
political issue, the decision
would cut both ways, even in a
State like New York.
During the floor debate, SEN
ator Russell struck hard at
practice he said has grown up
III recent years of having the
Attorney General of the United
States intervene in court pro-
ceedings like the segregation
cases. which were between citi-
zenS and their State govern
mentS.
Not Solely BrOwncll.
He said he was not singing
out Attorney General BroWnell
for this criticism. in as much as
the same practice was followed
in recent Democratic administra-
tions of having the Attorney
General act as spokesman for
the political party in power in
litigations to which the Federal
Government is not a party
we have come to sad days
when the executive branch alb
serbs the judiciary and uses it
as a tool to its ends" Senator
Russell told the Senate.
The most significant point in
the first Senate debate on the
issue yesterday. however. was
the plea of Senator Daniel, Dem
ocrat. of Texas. for moderation
in facing the problems growing
out of the decision.
Although some of the South
ern States have considered plans
for abolishing their public school
systems, Senator Daniel eau
toned against hasty action in
that direction.
Senator Russell was less con-
ciliatory when he interrupted
the Texan to charge that. for
the first time. the Supreme Court
substituted psychology for law
and precedent" in this decision