Evening star., 1959-02-01

1~SaSS&ssWu
Leaders Push
Bloc Vote
MONTGOMERY. Ala. Jan.
81 (APl Segregation leaders
from ii Southeastern States
proposed today that Southern
presidential electors support
and independent ticekt next
year II necessary to protect
States rights.
Speakers Stunned third
party talk but they were urged
to stick together in the elec-
toral college. Such a block
vote, several speakers sug-
gested, might give the South
the balance of power in elect
ing the next President.
Citizens Council leaders from
throughout the Sotuh attended
the conference. along with rep
resentatives Of the Council Of
States Rights and the Com
lmittee OF the 48 States.
Robert Patterson, executive
secretary of the Mississippi
Citizens Councils. presided at
the meeting, which was at
tended by more than 100 dele
gates.
No Official Action
| Mr.. Patterson stressed that
no official action would be
take nby the group. He said
the meeting was arranged
merely for everyone to get
acquainted.
THE purpose of the confer
ence was to establish liaison be-
tween citizens, organizations
and officials of the several
Southern States towards the
unity which will be necessary
to maintain our right of self
government" he said.
Although no vote was taken,
the delegates appeared inclined
to go along with the proposed
election of independent electors.
A campaign in this direction
is expected to be launched on
a southwide basis soon.
The election of independent
and uninstructed electors in the
IL States represented at today's
meeting would constitute lit
electoral vote-a potent bar
gaining tool for use at the
party convention or in the elec-
torial college.
In the event no candidate
can receive a majority of the
electoral votes-268 of the 534
members-the election of a
President would be settled in
: the United States House OF
Representatives, with each
State entitledt o one vote.
5 AvOwed Aim
This was the avowed aim OF
!. two of the speakers on today's
! program-Vice Admiral Harold
NJ. Martin, retired, former COM
, mander Of the 7th Fleet in
| Korea. and H. Coleman Long
of Uniontown, a member of the
Alabama Democratic Executive
] Committee.
Admiral MARTINI who lives In
Memphis, attended the confer.
ence. as a representative of the
Committee of the 48 States, ar
organization seeking the preser.
|, vation of States rights through
electoral college reform.
A "An organized South with
, independent electors can bt
4 the. determining factor in &
presidential election" Admira
Martin declared. "And tht
: greatest advantage of this plar
d is that it is so simple, so practi.
cal and so constitutional"
S Admiral Martin said within
: the next few weeks he planned
j to visit the capitals of mos
] Southern States to meet witt
Governors and legislators.
!, Mr.. Long, an outspoker
! States rights member of tn,
> State Committee, called fo
= = the election of uninstructes
electors, plus pre-conventior
;, caucus of the Southern States
"At that caucus we shoult
select our candidates for Presi
dent and Vice President whom
We will support at the Demo
: cratic convention" he said
, "And we must begin organizing
/ our slate of convention delegat
Q candidates and elector candi
: dates right now, and we mus
e make sure of the men we sup
: port.
It IF the South goes to tn
1t convention organized and so
= lidif1ed we cannot and will nc
be ignored.
d States represented at tn
: meeting were Alabama, Georgis
Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida
y South Carolina. North Caro-
'e lima, Tennessee. Virginia, Al
!? kansas and Texas.