| Show 1 High Hiah Honor and Great Responsibility I I 1 The fact that two Ut hns have been chosen to head key committees at the I national conventions in Chicago this July is quite an amazing coincidence as well as a distinct tribute to them Calvin W. W Rawlings Democratic national national national na na- na- na committeeman for Utah has been named chairman of the credentials committee committee committee com com- at the Democratic convention This committee accredits state slate delegations delegations delegations to the national convention and must recommend to the convention which of two delegations shall shaH be accredited accredited accredited ac ac- ac- ac credited whenever there are conflicting claims George T. T Hansen Republican national national national na na- na- na committeeman from Utah has a similar post at atthe the Republican conven conven- tion He has been named chairman of the committee on contests This committee committee committee com com- must recommend decisions on delegate disputes There are always some contests at ata a national convention But this year on both sides there are likely to be more contests than usual For the Democrats there are a anum- anum number number num num- b ber r of disputes arising from battles between between between be be- tween Truman and Truman anti-Truman factions within the party and between supporters support support- ers of Estes Kefauver for the nomination nomination nomination nomina nomina- tion and those who are vehemently opposed opposed opposed op op- op- op posed to the Tennessee Senator because of his liis attacks on an some of the crime- crime politics gambling-politics involving big city Democratic machines Even more crucial are some of the conflicts which must be decided by the Rep Republicans The Taft-Eisenhower Taft battle battle battle bat bat- tle for delegates has developed in a number of states particularly in the South into bitter battles which threaten not only to disrupt party unity in those states but which could spill over to do irreparable damage to the Republicans in the nation as a whole The eyes of the nation are going to tobe tobe tobe be on Chicago this July literally July literally because because because be be- cause of t television levision And millions of people people people peo peo- will be watching what the conventions conventions conventions conven conven- do relative to these conflicts conflicts and and if of the decisions made by the important committees headed by Mr Rawlings and Mr 1 Hansen do not seem fair to those watching the poli political cal show of the century century century cen cen- tury it might profoundly affect the outcome outcome outcome out out- come in November Two Democratic Senators the other day Senator George of Georgia and Sen Sen- ator Murray of Montana said the Taft- Taft Eisenhower increasing bitterness could cost the Republicans the election We Ne think that is a possibility But it itis itis itis is equally possible that the Truman civil rights and big city machine rows within the Democratic Party could split that party widely and give an easy victory victory victory vic vic- vic vic- tory to the G GOP 0 P. P The important point on this whole political issue is that this year more than thanin thanin thanin in any election for decades the race is wide open No man has the inside track Neither party has any assurance of vic vic- vic vic- tory And the final decision is certain to tobe tobe tobe be made by the voters in this country who class themselves as inde inde- pendants There just arent aren't enough regular regular regular reg reg- ular Democrats or regular Republicans to win an elec elec- tion Neither party can afford to ignore that independent block of votes as it moves into the conventions and makes its crucial decisions on contests on platforms platforms platforms plat plat- forms and finally on nominees The verdict verdict verdict ver ver- dict in November can easily be determined determined determined deter deter- mined by the decisions of July And some of those decisions will be greatly affected by two Cal Rawlings and George Hansen It is a high honor they have been given given and and also a great responsibility To fa their parties to the people people and and to the future |
