Evening star., 1960-01-19
BY MARY McGRORY
Star Stan Writer

gle over the gavel at the Demo-
cratic National Convention will
come out in the open this week
end when Democrats meet for
their harmony" presidential
kickoff dinner.
At the moment Representa-
tive Boggs of Louisiana, 'front.'
runner and only avowed candi-
date for permanent chairman
Of the convention, seems to be
begged down in religious and
theological considerations. He
says these are lamentations OF
his undeclared rivals for the
job, whom he declined to name
One Post for SOutherner
Traditionally, either the per-
manent chairman or the key
noter of the convention is a
Southerner. Representative
Boggs said that if he is rejected
they will not be eliminating
me; they will be eliminating
the South"
National Chairman Paul A,
Butler, who has in the past ex-
pressed some impatience with
the Southern section of his
fold. will choose the Arrange
ments Committee from the
members of the National Com
mittee. In due course they will
choose a chairman to replace
House Speaker Rayburn, who
will be busy on the floor in the
cause of his fellow Texan, Sem
ate Majority Leader johnson.
Paper Cites "Obstacle"
On Sunday the New York
Times printed a story staying
that Representative Boggs, a
Catholic, faced obstacles be-
cause "a Democratic leader,
who is not anti-Catholic re-
it would be unfortunate
If the impression should spread
the Nation, that Sena-
tor Kennedy, for example. had
been aided in his drive for the
nomination by a Catholic pre-
siding officer"
Representative Boggs said no
one has ever questioned his
fairness in 20 years in Con-
gress and that the religious is
sue is "hypocritical." Moreover,
he cleared his with all the pos
Sible presidential candidates in
the field before going after the
job. None of them opposed him,
he said.
He also made inquiries of
House Speaker Rayburn and
The Speaker assured him he
would mot be embarrassed" if
representative BoggS sought to
succeed him.
Roosevelt Defends Him
Representative Roosevelt,
Democrat Of California, issued
4 fiery statement yesterday ex-
"dismay and indigna-
ton" at the suggestion that
Representative Boggs would
make rulings unduly favorable
70 a Catholic presidential can
IF any Democrats believe
h at" said Representative
Roosevelt, they should be
deprived Of party leadership :. e.
The strength and vitality of
he Democratic Party, the rea-
son for its position as the ma
Iority national party is because
hose Of all faiths and color
nave found it capable of fight
ng for their welfare"
Some Northern liberals have
quietly registered opposition
10 the selection of Represen-
tative Boggs. because although
his voting record is liberal, he
signed the Southern Manifesto,
a declaration of States rights
signed by % Southern legisla-
tors after the Supreme Court
on desegregation. Civil
rights is a perennial problem
for the Democrats and will be
at the convention.
Two Northern liberal legisla-
tors have rallied to the aid of
representative Boggs.
Backed by 2 Liberals
Senator McCarty of Mime
'ota a campaign manager of
senator Humphrey, Democrat
If Minnesota, said: Represent
ltive Boggs knows the leaders
If the Democratic Party, he is
not committed to any one can
He knows the rules of
The House of Representatives,
which are followed in the con-
House Majority Leader Nc
Cormack, of Massachusetts
'aid: mo better selection can
De made"
Boiling Also Mentioned
The name most mentioned in
speculation of other candidates
Tor the job of gavel-wielding