Wednesday, July 19 Convention called to order at 11:30 a.m. (CWT) by Robert E. Hannegan, DNC Chairman Invocation by the Right Rev. John Zelezinski of Chicago National anthem by Nona Vann of the Chicago Civic Opera Company Call for convention, read by DNC secretary Mrs. Dorothy Vredenburgh of Alabama Welcoming speeches by Chicago Mayor Edward J. Kelly and Senator Lucas (D-IL) Presentation of distinguished visitors Remarks by Edwin J. Pauley, director of the convention Appointment of committees on credentials, permanent organization, rules and order of business, on resolutions and platform Recess until 8:15 p.m. Sessions resume at 8:15 p.m., with the call to order by Chairman Hannegan Invocation by the Rev. Harrison R. Anderson of Chicago Patriotic song by Phil Regan Address by DNC Chairman Hannegan Address by DNC Assistant Chairman Mrs. Charles W. Tillett of North Carolina Keynote address by Oklahoma Governor Robert S. Kerr
Byrnes out, Truman okayed by Roosevelt
President sends word to convention leaders
By Lyle C. Wilson, United Press staff writer
Chicago, Illinois –
President Franklin D. Roosevelt evidently believes renomination of Vice President Henry A. Wallace is impossible and has sent word to the Democratic National Convention that he would be happy to run with 60-year-old Senator Harry S. Truman (D-MO), head of the Senate’s munitions investigating committee.
This word broke the deadlock into which the convention was rapidly heading as it met today for its first session with Mr. Wallace present to fight for his political life after a hurry-up journey from Washington.
It looked like Mr. Truman on the first ballot now, perhaps Thursday night, with Mr. Wallace as runner-up.
Byrnes forced out
Mr. Roosevelt’s okay of Mr. Truman reached this convention after the President had forced War Mobilization Director James F. Byrnes of South Carolina, out of the contest. The President’s willingness to take Mr. Truman was revealed by National Committee Chairman Robert E. Hannegan, who told the United Press:
It is not correct that Mr. Roosevelt has set up a second and third choice [after Mr. Wallace]. But the President has indicated that he would be happy to run with Senator Truman, and that he thinks Senator Truman would strengthen the ticket.
That statement came about 20 minutes after Mr. Wallace had left the train at an outlying station, announcing he would go direct to the Stadium where the convention was in session. Instead, he went to his headquarters in the Sherman Hotel. He is chairman of the Iowa delegation but had not intended to come here until the conservative opposition to his renomination became so bitter his managers decided his only chance would be to make a personal appearance.
To give seconding speech
Mr. Wallace will deliver a seconding speech tomorrow afternoon for Mr. Roosevelt, who will be renominated for a fourth term, in time to address the delegates by radio in the evening. The second speech will give Mr. Wallace his last chance to persuade the delegates to renominate him for the $15,000-a-year Vice Presidency.
Mr. Byrnes was forced out under fire from the left – the Congress of Industrial Organizations and the fears of big industrial state leaders that Negroes would bolt the New Deal-Democratic coalition if he were on the ticket.
Sparks were flying in the last-minute vice-presidential deals. This was the second time that Mr. Byrnes reached for the Vice Presidency and pulled back in deference to the President’s wishes.
Hannegan shenanigans?
There was a faint but audible murmur of suspicion that Mr. Hannegan, a Missourian himself, did some masterminding in the development of Mr. Roosevelt’s acceptance of Senator Truman. The Missouri Senator was one of the men who helped boost the party chairman from the obscurity of local politics to the big top.
Senator Claude Pepper (D-FL) a mighty New Dealer in his own right with vice-presidential ambitions if Mr. Wallace should be cast aside, more than murmured his unhappiness and doubts. He said:
The effort to displace Mr. Wallace and to refuse to recognize the strength of the solid bloc of votes that are behind him and are loyal to him opens up in a very definite way the question as to whether this is to be an open and unbossed convention or not.
When we see the curious sight of party leaders whose official position presumes to make them impartial and objective lending themselves and the power of their official positions in the work of distributing stories that the President has repudiated his letter of endorsement to Mr. Wallace and now has laid the finger on another man, I begin personally to feel that it is time the entire situation be brought out into the sunlight. I propose to make a fight that it be done.
Mr. Pepper’s statement did not mention Mr. Hannegan and his fellow Missourian, Senator Truman, but there was no mistaking whom it meant.
Mayor Edward J. Kelly of Chicago, the Illinois Democratic leader, was also reportedly pondering the circumstances of the President’s nod to Senator Truman and to be attempting urgently to establish telephone contact with Mr. Roosevelt.
Booms go boom!
Vice-presidential booms wilted like starched collars of delegates in the stadium as word of Mr. Hannegan’s statement regarding Senator Truman spread among them. There were a score of hopefuls last night. There were few today and even Mr. Wallace must have been shaken from the optimism which has marked his managers and persuaded some of them to make a lot of even money bets from $10 to $100 on their man against the field.
Mr. Byrnes’ withdrawal was in the form of a letter to Senator Burnet R. Maybank (D-SC) and was made public by the National Committee.
Hopkins case reported
As convention events developed, it became known that Mr. Byrnes had been in contact with Mr. Roosevelt since the former arrived in Chicago last weekend. It is assumed that the withdrawal order was issued then.
There were also reports here that Harry L. Hopkins, presumably acting for the President, had telephoned Mr. Truman that he would be a satisfactory vice-presidential nominee if Mr. Wallace cannot make the grade.
The convention took Mr. Wallace sullenly and under compulsion four years ago and conservatives are determined to get their revenge this time.
Mr. Byrnes’ withdrawal under fire from the New Deal left will aggravate the anger of conservative Democrats who view Mr. Wallace as a “Johnny-come-lately” member of the party, at best, and as the personification of the left-wing elements of the New Deal-Democratic coalition which they would disassociate from organization control.
Wallace has 325 votes
The Vice President apparently can count on 325 first ballot votes for renomination. He hopes to parlay them and Mr. Roosevelt’s personal endorsement into a nomination majority of 589.
Mr. Truman came to the Senate as a protégé of Boss Tom Pendergast of Missouri, whose power was blasted in a trial which sent him to the Federal Penitentiary. But Mr. Truman has made a name for himself on his own as chairman of the Senate committee which investigates munitions production and contracts.
Sidney Hillman (CIO political spokesman), former Democratic National Chairman Edward J. Flynn of New York, and Mayor Frank Hague (New Jersey Democratic boss) were reliably reported to have blasted Mr. Byrnes’ candidacy. Mr. Hillman denied he had vetoed Mr. Byrnes and agreed to accept Mr. Truman. But he is here to deal and speak for the powerful labor forces comprising the left wing of the New Deal-Democratic coalition.
Fear Negro vote
Negroes are not speaking for themselves. But some of Mr. Byrnes’ supporters said Mr. Glynn’s refusal to agree to Mr. Byrnes was attributed to fear that New York State Negroes would desert the Democratic ticket if he were nominated for Vice President. The shadow of Negro balance-of-power strength in nearly a dozen major states has been a threat to Mr. Byrnes from the inception of his informal candidacy.
Today’s convention business is strictly routine. Chairman Robert E. Hannegan of the Democratic National Committee calls the meeting to order and there will be the usual prayers, patriotic songs, welcoming speeches and routine announcements at the opening session. At 8:15 p.m. CWT, the delegates gather again to hear a couple of brief warmup talks preliminary to the keynote address by Oklahoma Governor Robert S. Kerr. Mr. Roosevelt is to be renominated tomorrow.