Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1957-06-22
Two-Party South?

If Chairman Meade Alcorn of the Republican Ma
tonal Committee should succeed in his effort build
up the COP. in the South he would be performing an
lnestmable service not only to the Republican party
but also to the nation and to the Democratic party as
we'll The country whole would clearly benefit from
two-party system in the dozen so states generally
referred to the solid South" National issues could
then be fought out election day at the ballot box on
more less ineligible basis they are in the rest
OF the Union instead of being swept under the rug after
the primaries. Furthermore, the iron grip given by
the seniority system in Congress to the Southern wing
OF the Democratic party would be weakened; and the
a-lmportant committee charmanships would inevitably
be brought into closer touch with existing currents
popular opinion. The Democratic party itself would be
gamer in the long too because it's present split per-
sonalltyunder which often stands for exactly opposite
principles in North and South-woud be forced by DO
lltical competition to mold itself into coherent
frame.
But the mere fact that twoparty vitality below the
Mason-Dlxon line is highly desirable isn't the same as
saying that it will about. Southern Republicans
many if not most of them-have deep vested interest
In preserving the aspect of their party that per-
mlts them to be left alone when the Democrats are in
national office and to have the patronage to themselves
when the COP is in Northern Republicans are looking
ongingy at the Negro vote, which could play decisive
role in some 60 Northern Congressional districts but
anything they do to recapture in the North naturally
tends to undermine the COPS appeal in the South
Beyond all this the historic roots of the Demo-
cratic party in the South strong and election laws
in some areas "fixed" that it is literally impossible
IN many places to find Republican to for local
ofce which is the arena where real political organza
ton begins. Until the COP crack the courthouses
and the state houses, it's in the South will at
best be but superficial and largely dependent-as it
was In 1956On the ccumstantia attractveness of the
national Republican leader. This be no foundation
on which to build genuine two-party system.
However, the South itself is changing and it's party
structure is inevitably changing along with it. Indus
of the Negro in large numbers diuton of the cotton
economy-a these events having their effect The
Republican party could into this picture in Sc
rious way; but to do So it will really have to try
something that despite protesatons to the contrary it
has not been doing any important scale either before
or since Eisenhower came into office.
Ut course for Eisenhower to win Louisiana last year
mot to mention Texas Florida Tennessee and Virginia
was something's it was something for COP candidates
to carry nine Southern Congressional districts and it
was something for the total Republican vote for Con-
in IL Southern states to go up from 10 per cent
In 1862 to 1854 cent in 1856 But these were essen
rally Eisenhower victories and national level The