Volume 18 , Issue 3

1950 - Civil Rights Showdown

Out of Lubbock, Texas, Lubbock Morning Avalanche, dated 18 January 1950, Wednesday, front page headlines concerning Civil Rights Showdown written by Roger D. Greene, Associated Press Staff writer: "HST To Seek Civil Rights Showdown."

Found on Newspapers.com

Washington, Jan. 17 (1950) -- President Truman declared that the administration would press the bitterly fought civil rights program to a showdown vote in Congress "If it takes all summer."

The President served notice, in effect, that he wants every member of Congress to be put on record for or against the proposals which caused a split in Democratic party ranks during the 1948 presidential election campaign.

Lashing out at a coalition of Southern democrats and Republicans on the House Rules committee, Mr. Truman said he would fight to defeat their efforts to repeal a parliamentary rule under which the administration hopes to bring up civil rights legislation in the House.

GOP Seeks delay
On Capitol Hill, Republican leader Martin of Massachusetts told newsmen his party favors the repeal action, but doesn't want to vote on it until next year.

This seemed to indicate that the Republicans were anxious to avoid being put in the position voting for a rules change that might stifle a vote on civil rights. Like the administration Democrats, the Republicans were politically committed to a civil rights program.

It also indicated that by wanting to delay the vote until next week, the Republicans hoped to be in a position later to bottle up other phases of Mr. Truman's fair deal program.

Resolution Denounced
Mr. Truman denounced the repealer resolution as a "a blow that is serious and backward-looking."

The President made his remarks before a National Emergency Civil Rights Mobilization delegation which called at the white House to urge all possible administration pressure to pass the fair employment practices commission (FEPC) bill.

The measure, one of the most bitterly fought by southern congressmen, would establish a federal commission to combat discrimination in the hiring of negroes and other minority groups.

Mr. Truman's civil rights program touched off a southern revolt in the Democratic party two years ago and cost him four southern states in the election. Democratic strategists figure, however, that it gained him votes in the North.

The President devoted part of the speech to the move in the House to repeal parliamentary regulation which was known as "Rule 21."

The background on this was as follows:
Until last year (1949), the House Rules committee had broad powers over the legislative machinery because it could bottle up bills it opposed.

In 1949 these powers were largely taken away when the House passed a rule saying that if the rules committee delays a bill for 21 days, then it may be brought up in the House for a vote anyway.

A week before Rep. Cox (D-Ga) succeeded in getting a resolution through the rules committee to repeal this 21-day rule. The House had yet to act on it, and there was much parliamentary skirmishing on this day in 1950, with foes of the civil rights program trying to get it up for a house vote before FEPC could be bought up.

Other Items Opposed
Not all opponents of the 21-day rule were against civil rights, however. Some want the rule repealed so as to b lock other items in the Truman "fair deal" program; others want to prevent such measures as the veterans' bonus from coming to a House vote.

President Truman, referring to the move to repeal the 21-day rule, said, "I am doing everything possible to have that motion beaten when it comes up for consideration on the floor of the House."

As for the sEnate scene of past southern filibusters against civil rights bills, the President said, "Every effort is being made to get a vote on these measures in the senate. The leader of the majority (Senator Lucas of Illinois) and the vice president have assured me they will eventually get a vote, if it takes all summer."

Congress was tentatively scheduled to adjourn by the end of June, since this was an election year.
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