South’s revolt not as violent as expected
Rebels not likely to disrupt convention
By Marshall McNeil, Scripps-Howard staff writer
Chicago, Illinois –
As convention week opens here, dissident Southerners seem somewhat less belligerent than had been expected.
The revolt in the South is the No. 2 topic in the hotel lobbies beginning to fill with delegates (No. 1 is the vice-presidential contest).
But with the renomination of President Roosevelt assured, the objections of Southerners seem less important. It may turn out that the rebels will furnish merely the color and the noise, and not seriously disrupt convention proceedings.
What happens will depend in part on a caucus tonight of Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, South Carolina, Virginia, and perhaps Georgia and Florida delegations.
Platform demands
This caucus will work out its platform demands, then return to the respective state delegations for ratification. Failing ratification, they will take the issues to the committee themselves, perhaps even to the floor.
Their first demand will be restoration of the two-thirds nominating rule. Secondly, they want a platform plank on state’s rights to govern elections (to protect their poll tax laws), third, they want a plank which upholds their segregation laws. They don’t like to have this called a “white supremacy” plank.
In Texas and Mississippi, presidential electors are to vote in the electoral college against the party nominees unless these demands are met. But peace feelers are out to stop such a bolt.
Texas situation
Dan Moody, former Governor of Texas and chairman of the state’s “Regular” delegation to this convention, discussed the situation yesterday.
The right of his delegation to seats will be opposed by pro-Roosevelt rump delegates. But, with the Texas national committee having recommended the seating of the Regulars, it looks as if Mr. Moody’s group will be in. Middle-of-the-road Texas politicians think this would take a lot of wind out of the anti-fourth-term sails there.
Mr. Moody explained that the Texas Regulars’ convention admonished their electors on three scores:
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To vote against the party nominees if the rump delegation were seated here.
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They were not morally obligated to vote for the nominees if the two-thirds rule were not restored, and would be morally obligated to vote for some other Democrat who favors the two-thirds rule.
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They would not be obligated to support the nominees if the segregation-state’s rights planks were not included in the platform, and may vote for any Democrat who shares their views.
Conformity with constitution
Mr. Moody pointed out that what the Texas electors do depends upon this convention. He insisted that all the Texans were requesting was conformity with the constitution, return to an ancient nominating rule of the Democratic Party, and the seating of the legally-qualified delegates to this convention.
He said he was personally opposed to a fourth term, but added that he did not “hate Roosevelt,” that he admired him, but doubted the wisdom of a fourth term.
Democrats told: No Southerner!
Chicago, Illinois (UP) –
The Democratic Party “can kiss the Negro vote goodbye” if it nominates a Southerner for Vice President, Walter White, executive secretary for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, warned yesterday.
Mr. White told the association’s wartime conference that his prediction was based “not on the opinion of a single individual or even of the NAACP’s 400,000 members,” but is something “deep in the hearts of the thoughtful Negro citizens all over this country.”
He asserted, however, that Negroes are not fooled by the “dishonest and stupid” platform of the Republican Party, which “reached the height of double-talk” on the Negro and contained “a weasel-worded plank on post-war international relations.”
And, he said:
Negroes have reason to be grateful for much during the Roosevelt administration. We have keen respect and affection for the courage and integrity of Mrs. Roosevelt.
We may have to submit to the temporary defeat of seeing Tweedledum replace Tweedledee. We cannot run the risk – so desperate is our plight – of an anti-Negro figure as heir-apparent to the most powerful position in the world today. We are finished in the world today. We are finished with being treated as nitwits and dolts.