Evening star., 1916-12-24


tionaI and congressional committees is
either a mistake in itself or else more
harmonious relations must exist be
tween the two committees. In addition
Representative Hill advocates the Sc
lection of John T. King as chairman OF
the national committee. Mr.. King now
represents Connecticut on the commit
tee.
Discusses Situation.
In his discussion of the republican
situation Representative Hill said:
The best conclusions that l can reach
in regard to the campaign are that.
first the great democratic effort was
made to secure the reelection OF w ood-
row Wilson, and the national commit
tee at least gave the election of indi-
vidual members Of Congress a decided
ly second place in their efforts and de-
SireS. ! may he wrong. but that is the
way it looks to me. on the other hand,
am thoroughly convinced from re-
peated inquiries and study OF the re-
turns. so far as they have been avail
able. that the republican party, outside
Of the national committee. with a full
confidence in the election of Mr.. Hughes
gave precedence in campaigning to the
election of individual members of Con-
greSs and senators, with the result as
bring defeat for any party If the other
party is shrewd enough to take advan
tage of it and act accordingly.
Would Take Action Now.
Il think what the republican party
needs at the present time is a complete
reorganization of the national commit
tee. and they need it now. in order to
| 10 t,ir
possible-a full Senate and House vic
tory in 1918. To sit down now and
wait until few months before the
next presidential election. and then at
tempt - make an organization of the
whole United States within a few weeks
and with an absolutely new candidate,
seems to me to be impossible, and from
party standpoint exceedingly unfor-
tunate.
My Judgment is that the national COM
mittee and the congressional committee
should be one. with one chairman and
one complete organZa ton, making. if
need be, committee just twice as large
as it is now. but with only one set of
officers at the top. 1t would be far more
effective in the collection and judicious
expenditure of funds, and far more eco
nomical than the present dual system.
Boosts John T. King.
own suggestion as to who would be the
best person to manage such an organiza-
ton. ! have no doubt in regard to the
, matter. and would suggest the name OF
John T. King. lnember Of the republican
national committee from Connecticut If
II were possible for him to be appointed
as such a political manager az chairman
Of such joint committee. am thoroughly
convinced that national and congress
sional orga MIA ton would be at once ini-
tated, and that long before the general
election of 1918 he would be prepared to
bring the combined force of the. party
to bear upon every weak spot and that
no matter who was the republican can
didate for President in 1920, "A live virile
working organiZa ton in every state in
the Union would be prepared to bring out
Ill the strength that the republican party
had and put the machinery in operation
for an educat tional campaien which would
add to that strength to the utmost pos
sble limit
Would Weld Fighting Force. y
Knowing Mr. King do. am thor
oushiy satisfied that he is heartily in
| favor not only of consolidat ting all the
elements of the republican party as
they existed prior to 1912. but of weld
ing together in a good, strong fighting
to the national democracy. 1T seems
to me that such course ought to be
pursued and that we ought to enter
upon it Immediately. My own choice
for such a general manager and
chairman would be John T. King That
this work should be made the business
of some competent man and that il
should be steadily prosecuted. not by
fits and starts and uproarious en-
! thusasm four years from now but by
a steady. straightforward. intelligent
system of organization begun now and
continued through to the point where
the demand is to be made upon it, / have
no sort of question. | happen to know
that under the leadership of the ma
tional democratic committee precisely
such work is now being done in Con
necticut
Should Always Be Ready.
Il think we have reached the point
in party politics in this country where
an organiZa tion should always be ready
and not ready by fits and starts. John
r. King is that kind of a man, and /
sincerely hope that some steps in this
direction may be taken Immediately 1t
is no reflection upon the present or
saniZation, either congressional or
presidential, for both were chosen to
handle the campaign of last Novem-
f,.y. ton, II hos