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A Divided Party

S. J. Ray in The Kansas City Star, July 17, 1948

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The Democrats adjourned their convention in Philadelphia early today a badly weakened and demoralized party. Their admittedly slim prospects in the November election were even further reduced. Party wounds were inflicted that will be a long time in healing, with the hitherto solid South now in a definite break with the regular leadership. The Truman-Barkley ticket was nominated according to schedule and the president made a strong fighting speech in his acceptance. It is evident that Mr. Truman, faced with an uphill battle, expects to see it through. The President also has gained a tactical advantage over the Republicans in his call for a special session of Congress to open on July 26….

…Otherwise the Democratic proceedings in Philadelphia have left the party with little hope for success this year. A show of unity was developed in the balloting for the winning candidates. But the left-wing and the new deal elements cannot be highly pleased with the ticket. Their attempts to enlist General Eisenhower and then Justice Douglas were carried right up to convention time and the assertions of various leaders that there would be no chance to win with Mr. Truman will be thrown back at them throughout the campaign.

The alienation of the South, hitherto the most loyal and dependable section of the party, was totally uncalled for. It was the work chiefly of a political group maneuvering for minority votes in doubtful states of the North and West. It was a serious blow to party solidarity not only this year but perhaps in future years….

….The eleven states that cast virtually all their convention ballots for Senator Russell of Georgia have a total of 127 electoral votes. These states are not going Republican, no great number of them at lest. But they might throw the bulk of their votes to candidates of their own choosing and thus the regular party ticket would be further endangered.

No wholesale predictions need to be made at this stage of the contest either within the one party or between the two major parties. Events between now and November could change the present outlook. But at the moment the chance of Democratic success appear to be a mere fraction of what thy have been in the last sixteen years.