Evening star., 1913-03-05
PARTY CHIEFS MEET
Cummings Made Vice Chair
man of Committee.
HEADQUARTERS IN CAPITAL
Thomas J. Pence to Have Charge of
Permanent Bureau.
DEMOCRACY PLANS FOR 1916
Organization to Be Perfected in
Every Ward and Township on
Card Index System
HEADQUARTERS IN CAPITAL
DEMOCRACY PLANS FOR 1915

The democratic national committee met
at the New Willard Hotel at IL O'Clock
today. pursuant to the call OF Chairman
McCombs. who took advantage OF the
presence of many members in attendance
upon the inaugural ceremonies to get the
committee together.
When the session got down to business
Homer s. Cummings OF Connecticut
was elected vice chairman and it
was pointed out that no resigna-
tion by Mr.. McAdoo was necessary. be-
cause he was not a member Of the COM
mittee and had been serving as vice
chairman only by appointment of the
executive committee. Rolla Wells of ST
Louis, committeeman from Missouri, who
had served through the campaign ma
tional treasurer by a like appointment
was elected treasurer today The COM
mittee then went into executive session.
To Campaign for 1916.
The object of today's meeting was to
organize the democratic party for the
campaign of four years hence. From to-
day until election day in November, 1916,
the democrats propose to keep everlast-
ingly at it, in efforts to retain the hold
upon the country which they now pos
sesS.
The necessity for such prompt prelimi-
nary action arises from the fact that the
democratic organization of last fall was.
of necessity, temporary and expedfent.
The democrats had been out of power so
long that their machinery had become al
most obsolete. had rusted in some states
and had been demolished in others.
They patched up a pretty good machine
it was, good enough to make one OF
the greatest revolutions in politics this
xxyi%nn Voff fhoNy In
not lose sight of the fact that there were
contributory elements to their victory
which they cannot count upon in the
next national election, and they are get
ting into shape to make sure that MOTH
ing is overlooked by way of their own
efforts.
Headquarters in Capital.
1t was decided by the national COM
mittee to establish permanent headquar-
ters In this city and to maintain from
now on a publicity bureau which will
keep the country advised of the progress
of democratic administration of the gov
ernment in the executive and legislative
branches. Thomas j. Pence is to be in
charge Of the headquarters.
The managers believe that as Washing
ton is the scene of action, the mecca of
politicians and the largest center of news
distribution in the land. by the existence
of the corps Of Washington correspond
ents. this city should be the headquarters
of the national committee.
The vice craftsmanship is a new office.
Mr.. McAdoo, who goes into the cabinet,
was vice chairman of an auxiliary COM
mittee, and not of the national COM
mittee.
Elaborate System Planned.
Mr. McCombs will be chairman unless
he decides to accept an Enthusiastically,
but in any event it is deemed desirable
to have a vice chairman who will devote
his attention to the work Of organization
to the practical exclusion Of other in
terests.
This reorganization. as now planned. is
to extend to the lowest units of political
machinery, ward and township organiza-
tions. An elaborate system OF card in
deXes will be maintained so that the cam
paign managers may keep In touch with
the humbest of the workers in the cause.
The gathering of the committeeman to-
day was the occasion for mutual felic1ta-
ton and almost unbounded enthusiasm.
They had seen the fruition of their work
and were nursing to their hearts the very
had come into their own again and were
now in full possession of the govern
ment.
Call at White House.
After indorsing John T. Martin of Mis-
souri,, sergeant-at-arms of many national
democratic conventions. for sergeant-at-
arms Of the Senate, the committee re-
cessed for luncheon to meet later and call
upon President Wilson at the White
House and also to visit the Navy Depart
ment to see Josephus Daniels, one of its
members, sworn in as Secretary of the
Navy.