Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-07-08

Averell Hartman of New York, @
The fact that the Democrats
have arranged for a meeting OF
the resolutions committee a full
week before the opening of their
national convention is indicative
of the Importance the document
has attained in the minds of the
party leaders and of a conflict
over the civil rights plank which
must be drafted.
The resolutions committees will
hear many persons and organiza-
tions interested in the civil rights
issue and the many other sub
jects with which the platform
will deal. In the end, it must de-
eide just how far the committee
wants to go on promising speed
in the desegregation of the public
schools.
Optimism that a plank ac-
ceptable, if not entirely salts
factory, to both the Northern
and the Southern Democrats is
exuding from spokesman of both
sections of the country. They 60
so far as to promise there will be
no "walk-out," no split in the
Democratic Party over this issue
1882 Plank Recalled
Most of this optimistic Demo-
cratic talk suggests that the
party will take. in substance. the
civil rights plank in the 1852
platform. This plank, however,
was drafted before the decision
of the Supreme Court outlawing
segregation in the public schools.
There will be strong demands
that the platform now approve
that court decision. and perhaps
urge speed in the enforcement Of
the courts decree.
The 1882 Democratic civil
rights plank, after declaring the
pride Of the party in the record
that was made under Democratic
administrations in securing
equality Of treatment and oppor-
tunity in the armed forces. the
civil service and other areas
under Federal jurisdiction. con-
tinued:
THE Department of Justice
has taken an important part in
successfully arguing in the
courts for the elimination Of
many illegal determinations. in
GLIDING those involving rights to
own and use real property. to
engage in gainful occupations
and to enroll in publicly sup
ported educational institutions.
We are determined that the Fed
eral Government shall continue
such policies.
"At the same time we favor
Federal legislation effectively to
secure these rights to every one:
Cd the right to equal opportun-
ity for employment: (2) the
right to security Of persons: (O
the right to full and equal par
ticipation in the Nations polit-
ical life. free from arbitrary re-
straints. We also favor legislation
to perfect existing Federal civil
RIGHTS statutes and 10 strengthen
administrative machinery for
the protection of civil rights"
The Republicans. whose ma
tional convention opens in San
Francisco August 20, are in a
happier frame of mind over the
selection of their national ticket
and over writing their platform.
In consequence thev will begin
their committee labors in San
Francisco only a half week In
advance of the convention itself
COP. Leaders Complacent
The party leaders are rather
aomplacent about the civil rights
issue. feeling there will be little
difficulty writing a platform
plank. AS they see it. civil rights
is in the lap Of the Democrats.
The Republicans, they say. al
ways have been for civil rights,
and there is no split in the party
over the issue.
With few exceptions. the dele
gates to the Republican and
Democratic National Conventions
have been elected. The Washing
ton COP. delegation was
chosen yesterday. leaving some
Republican delegates to be
named July 81 in Virginia, IA in
New Mexico July 10, and perhaps
4 few in Tennessee. And with
very few exceptions. the Repub-
lican delegates chosen are for
the denomination Of President
Eisenhower-and the great ma
jority go along for the renomina-
ton Of Vice President Nixon.
In Nebraska. however. one
delegate to the Republican Con-
vention. Terry Carpenter, has
declared for the nomination Of
Senator Knowland of California
for president. Mr.. Carpenter.
formerly a Democrat. shifted to
Mr.. Eisenhower In 1852 and was
an Eisenhower delegate that
year. Two years later he was an
unsuccessful candidate for a Re-
publican senatorial nomination.
With all their thoughts CEN
tered on Mr.. Eisenhower for the
presidential nomination. the Re-
publicans would face a terrific
struggle if he should Withdraw.
The satisfactory convalescence Of
the President from his operation
makes such a contingency I'M
likely.
Little Trouble Expected
Since the Eisenhower program
is so fully known, the Repub-
licans do not expect much
trouble with their party plat
form. The so-called Bricker
amendment to the Constitution,
designed to prevent international
engagements which might con-
travene or upset domestic laws,
will have its Supporters before the
-