Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-06
HarriimanCaIIs
For Dynamic
Party Platform
Plank in Roosevelt,
Truman Tradition
Urged by Governor
BY JACK BELL
Associated Press STAFF Writer

NI14CA1O, Aug. O.-GOV. AV-
erell Hartman of New York
called on Democrats today to
write a dynamic. fighting
platform in the Roosevelt Tru-
man tradition"
Lloyd Benefited, director of
Mi Harriman's campaign for
Democrats Shift Their Office Force to
Chicago. Poqe BIT
the Democratic presidential
nomination. denied in a state
ment that the New York Gov
ernor's forces will attempt. to
organize any Hartman bloc"
within the National Convention
Platform Committee which or
ganized formally today.
Forward Looking"
But Mr. Benefited quoted MIR.
Hartman as being confident
the vast majority of Democrats
will insist on a platform which
follows the forward-looking phil
osophy and detectives which
guided Franklin Roosevelt and
Harry Truman
This st a m n t apparently
signalled the Hartman camps
decision not to take the leader
ship in fight for a strong civil
rights plank. There had been
speculation the New York Gov
ernor might make such a move
to advance his candidacy for
the nomination. even at the risk
of a convention split and possible
Southern Walkout.
Through Mr.. Benefited. Mr..
Hartman again condemned the
sort of moderation" being adj
vocated by Adlai E. Stevenson.
the party's 1852 presidential
nominee and leading candidate
for this years nomination.
Asserting that the American
people will be greatly disap-
pointed if we water down the
principles which have always
brought our party success in the
past" Mr.. Benefited said in a
statement cleared with Mr.. Har-
riman:
I'VE feel sure this national
convention of leading Democrats
from all States and territories
will emphatically reject any
fence-riding program of 'moder-
alton Looking backward is the
favorite pastime of Republicans,
not Democrats,
Liberal Plank Urged
IF the majority of delegates
in this convention have their
way, we will adopt the kind of
liberal platform which Demo-
Gratis everywhere can present to
the people proudly"
Mr. Harriman'S platform views
were made known as Senator
Lyndon B. johnson of Texas
emerged in the political maneu-
vering here as a key figure in the
Stevenson-H Hartman contest to
be settled in the party conven-
ton opening here next Monday.
Backers of Mr.. Stevenson APP
parently believe Senator John
son. the Senate's majority
leader, could make it possible for
their man to gain the nominal
ton on the first convention bal
lot.
BY the same token, Mr.. Harri-
mans supporters are promoting
Senator Johnson as a possible
serious candidate himself-one
who might hold out long enough
to bring about a convention
deadlock.
AS Texas favorite son, Senator
Johnson has his States Sc NOM
mating votes in his pocket. He
also has widespread-if I'M
pledged-support among South
ern delegates who lack en-
thusiasm for Mr. Stevenson and
who are vigorously vocal in their
opposition to Gov. Hartman.
Civil Rights Important
Senator Johnson's attitude
toward Mr. Stevenson. whom he
supported actively in 1852, may
be determined in part by how
the party's platform drafting
committee handles the ticklish
civil rights issue.
Under the guiding hand of
Representative John McCor-
mack of Massachusetts, the l07-
member committee starts today
the week-long task of fitting
together the planks next week S
See DEMOCRATS, Page A