The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-04-27
h'COMBS TO GIVE
Up GUARDIANSHIP
Head of Democratic National
Committee to Resign After
Convention-Lynch Is
Slated For Place.

Washington. April 25.-William f.
McCombs, chairman Of the democratic
national committee today notified
President Wilson that he will be I'M
able to continue in his present position
after the democratic national V
ton in ST. Louis. and will be unable to
direct Mr.. Wilson's campaign for re-
election.
Replying to Mr.. McCombs' letter, the
president expressed regret. Fred 3.
Lynch, national committeeman from
Minnesota, is expected to succeed Mr..
McCombs and conduct the campaign.
Forms New Partnership.
Mr.. McCombs wrote this letter to the
president:
II have just formed a new partner
ship for the practice Of law, which will
become effective on the first of May.
The change will necessitate my devot-
ing substantially all my time to my
profession. My political activities must
be largely curtailed. My arrangement,
however, will Justify my proceeding
through to the end Of the convention at
st. Louis.
In view of the party precedent that
the nominee for president is requested
to indicate his preference for the
Guardianship of the national committee
and in view of the unity of sentiment
for our denomination, 1 am writing
you at the earliest moment to let you
know that 1 could not under any cir
cumstances assume the leadership Of
the coming democratic campaign. |
am happy in the thought, however. that
there are hosts of able and true nen
who can very readily take my place"
1.-The democratic organization is loyal
to your policies and purposes. We all
feel assured of q triumphant result for
you and for the party nominees
throughout the country in November.
For five years l have been in the
active service of the party, and it is
with a keen feeling of regret that I am
forced to conclude that my activities
are of necessity to be more limited. If
within the limit of my time l can be
Of assistance, be assured that l am
always available"
Wilson'S Letter to McCombs.
The president replied as follows:
81 have your letter of April 20, APP
prising me of your inability to retain
the craftsmanship of the democratic ma
tional committee for the approaching
campaign.
II fully appreciate the necessity you
feel yourself to be under to resign after
the convention shall have been held in
June. I know hat you would not have
reached such a decision had not you
new business relations made it un-
avoidable. l do not feel at liberty
therefore, to urge you to make the
sacrifice that a retention of the chair
manship in the circumstances would
involve. You have made many anG
great sacrifices already for the party
and / know that l am speaking the sen.
timents of all loyal democrats, when
express the very deep appreciation
have felt for the great services yol
have rendered"
Mr.. Lynch, suggested for the chair.
manship, is now chairman of tn
executive committee of the nationa
committee. and in active charge of pre-,
liminary work for Mr.. Wilson's renom
ination. Homer S. Cummins, of Con
| necticut, vice chairman of the nationa
committee, and Joseph p. Tumulty, sec
rotary to the president, also ave beer
mentioned as successors to Mr.. Nc
| Combs.