(ca. 1956)

New York -- Walter Reuther is out to split the democratic Party. He said and his aides are now polishing up plans to provoke southern delegates into walking out from the nominating convention in Chicago in August and then from the party itself.

This tactic was seriously discussed in Washington at a series of private gabfests during the unions recent three-day "educational Conference' which was virtually turned into a democratic Party forum.

It is a maneuver designed to give Reuther and his colleagues, who already influence important sections of the party, still greater power within the organization. If successful, the Reuther plan could reshape the entire political picture of the country within the next five years.

This splitting scheme is similar to one advocated by a coalition of CIO leaders and top officials of the Americans for democratic Action four years ago.

They would have pressed for it at the 1952 nominating convention but Reuther felt that the time was not ripe then for such action. At the last minute he and his advisers decided to ride with the regulars in the Democratic Party.

Now, the Reutherites believe the atmosphere is right for this daring political venture. They are convinced that the violent arguments raging over the racial question have provided them with the chance to push their plan and consolidate their influence in the Democratic set-up.

Reuther has told intimates that he believes the negroes will vote Republican right now. He is convinced that only a very bold and dramatic move to isolate the Dixiecrats can swing the powerful Negro vote to the Democrats. He is equally convinced that this vote is enough to carry the ticket against Ike and Nixon or any other GOP candidates.

The peppery Detroiter--recently hailed as "Presidential timber" during his whirlwind whistle-stop tour of India where he made 116 speeches--has painstakingly prepared his plan and has come up with facts and figures to prove that his scheme is no political pipe dream.

He and his advisers are ready to write off Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Louisiana. More than that, they are anxious for Democratic Party regulars in those states to bolt.

They plan to give them a push toward the exits by fighting for an ultra-militant plank on civil rights--so hot that the southerners cannot go along with it. And don't think that they lack either the 'savvy' or the strength to do just that.

The old CIO unions--but especially Reuther's Auto Workers--will march into the Chicago nominating convention with large batches of votes from Michigan, Pennsylvania, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Wisconsin and Connecticut.

In many delegations they will be the controlling force. And with the huge amounts of money and manpower as their disposal for campaign purposes, they can influence much additional support.

"They are saying that the Democrats can win without the South. They figure that they can count on 244 electoral votes from 16 states which have Democratic governors.

This includes Texas which they are convinced will not bolt. This is based on their belief that the anti-Gov. Shiver forces--led by Sam Rayburn and Lyndon Johnson -- will win Texas and will refuse to bolt with the solid bloc of deep southern states.

All they need to win, after that, according to the Reutherites' theory, are the 25 electoral votes from California or Illinois.

In both of these states the Negro vote could be the difference between victory and defeat. Reuther believes his plan will swing the vote to the democrats, who will gain stature by dumping the southern segregationists.

The labor people are prepared to spend more time, money and manpower in this effort than ever before in the history of their participation in national politics.

If the Reuther people can succeed in putting this project across--and especially if the Democrats win in '56--they will be the greatest power in the Democratic Party, North and South.

For once the southern Democrats bolt, the unionists will inherit the formal party machinery which will give them votes in future conventions. They will be in the position of southern Republicans at GOP conventions--with votes to cast even though they have no real membership behind them.

With this tremendous influence as a lever, Reuther and his cohorts will be able to utilize the Democratic Party to push labor candidates locally and nationally. And when national political recognition comes, can Reuther be far behind.