The daily times., 1921-09-16
FERRIS SUGGESTED
AS NEXT CHAIRMAN
OF The DEMOCRATS
FORMER CONGRESSMAN
The Democrats Are Anxious to
Secure a Chairman, Should
George White Resign, Who
Has Not Been Identified
With the Quarrels of Past
Nomination Campaigns.
FORMER CONGRESSMAN
(By David Lawrence
copyright, 1921, by The Daily
Times

1lmeS.
Washington, Sept. 15-Scott Fer
ris, former member of Congress from
Oklahoma, may be the next chairman
of the Democratic National Commit
tee. George White, the present chair
man, intends to resign if all the
factions can agree on new chair
man who shall not have been identi-
fed with the quarrels of the past.
The name of Mr.. Ferris is being
urged by his friends for thai very
reason. He was not present at the
San Francisco convention where the
rift between the McAdoo and Cox
forces developed and he has not tax
en- part in the controversies that
have developed since that convention
The public may not know it but
inside the Democratic party the con-
test over the selection of a chairman
has been going on with the same in
tensity as might occur on the eve of
a national convention. The struggle
for control of the party machinery so
as to influence the convention of
1924 in it's choice of Democratic
nominee for the presidency has been
at bottom responsible for the i'm
potence of the Democrats since their
overwhelming defeat last autumn.
Although every consideration of
strategy would seem to dictate that
the party forces should be harmon
lied for the good of the party instead
of the interests Of any individual, the
fact is the factions are as far apart
as ever and pulling in all directions.
George White, the present chair
man, holds the whip hand. He an
nounced some time ago that he was
eager to retire He has done credit
able job as national chairman as the
party will discover when the record
of his work is disclosed but he doesn't
want to continue in the management
of the party's interests. The job was
originally forced upon him. But Geo.
White can continue if he likes until
after the next national convention in
1924 1t is not customary for the ma
tional committee to pick new chair
man between presidential elections
unless one resigns and although the
McAdoo forces probably have ma
jority on the national committee, it
is unlikely that they would compel
White to resign Considerations of
harmony would prevent such a tact
less move.
So Mr. White while willing to re-
sign insists that he will not do so
until all factions have agreed upon
a man who can be trusted to manage
the party's affairs not in the interest
of Mr. McAdoo or Mr.. Cox or any
other potential candidate. The Nc
Adoo people would like to see Daniel
C. Roper named. He is capable exc
cutive and would make a splendid
chairman but his selection would be
opposed by the Cox wing of the party
because Mr.. Roper was pre-eonven-
tion manager for McAdoo and would
not have the confidence of all fac
tions. Others have been mentioned
who have at one time or another TAX
en- sides on the matter of presidential
candidates What Mr.. White wants
is someone who hasn't been parti-
san of anybody and who is at the
same time representative of the pro-
gressive elements in the Democratic
party.
There is no certainty that the Cox
forces would give their approval to
the selection of Scott Ferris for they
have had their minds set on getting
somebody affiliated more closely with
the party machinery in the larger
states. But in behalf of Mr.. Ferris.
il is being urged that he managed
the congressional campaign commit
CONTINUED on page Tbree)