New-York tribune., 1920-12-14
Cox to Retain
Grip ON | arty
Organization
Decision of Dem ocra;ic
Leaders at Washington
Conference to Keep White
as Chairman Significant
Governor to Meet Chiefs
McAdoo, Although in City,
Fails to Attend Meeting:
Not Worried Over Deficit
Bv Carter Field

WASHINGTON, De-. 13-Decision y
the Democratic chieftains here to re-
tain George White as chairman of the
national committee, and Mr.. Whites
own insistence that ne was elected for
four years, is construed to mean that
Governor James NJ. Cox intends to keep
his grip on the Democratic organiza-
ton.
Governor Cox will be in Washington
early next week to confer with Chair
man White and other party leaders, and
this fact is held to mean that the Gov
ernor has no idea of letting control Of
the party slip out of his hands until
considerable more time has elapsed
perhaps until he can get an idea OF how
much control of the party organization
is going to be worth.
A curious incident of to oday's meet
ing was that William G. McAdoo was
in town, but did not attend Former
Chairman Homer S. Cummings, Presi-
dent w lson's choice Tor chairman, ana
George White, Governor CoX's personal
coice, both were present, as were Attor-
ney General Palmer, Secretary OF the
Navy Daniels and Joseph 2. Tumulty.
Leaders Favor Waiting Policy
If the Democratic attitude in Con-
gress is influenced by the party leaders.
i was said after the meeting, there will
be no definite policy assumed until con
siderably more tine has elapsed. w That
is desired is that the Harding admins
trat:on and the Republicans in Con-
cress shall have an opportunity to get
firmly entrenched in definite positions
while the Democrats study the sltua-
ton.
There is plenty Of time for US t; to
wetch the public reactions on the poll
cies of the Administrations said one
of The Democratic leaders. He did not
add but Inferred that there was no
use of the Democrats getting them
selves in deeper hole than they now
occupy by opposing policies which may
prove after brief period to be
popular.
Not Frightened by Deficit
The big surprise CT the day was that
apparently Cox and his friends are
not willing, as had been anticiDated,
TO permit any group OF Democratic
leaders who m ght be anXiouc to step
into the breach TO Ia @ control of the
Democratic party. The big deficit
hanging over from trc campai ign-pay-
ment Of which it mad been expected
would carry with l. control Of the
party organization-apparently is not
disturbing Chairman White and Gov
error Cox anything like as much as
had been expected. Certainly they
have no intention IF permitting this
Gefcit to scare them away from the
throttle of the party engine
The party has property running
into many thousands of dollars. "
Chairman White saa GAS much OF it
as is useless believe should be
utilized to meet the Geficit"
Sc the plan Of permitting the friends
q William G. Mcldoo- Bernard NJ
Bsluch, Thomas L. Chadbourne and
othegs-to pay the dctic;t and at the
sane time quietly take control Of the
party has gone by the board The
campaign for contributions will be
continued by Mr. White, ard every
effcrs made to pay the party's debts
without calling on anyone for aid
whose aid might only be given as the
price of c0ntr0l