Evening star., 1925-03-09
ROBINSON FAVORS
DEMOCRATIC RALLY
Conference of National Fig.
ureS Needed to Restore
Harmony, He Says.

Approval of the proposal that the
Democrats this Spring or early in the
Summer hold a conference to patch
up their differences and get together
for the next campaign was voiced by
Senator Robinson of Arkansas, the
Democratic leader of the Senate, to-
day. He spoke with particular ref
erenCe to proposals of Franklin d
Roosevelt of New York and Others
that a conference should be held. He
said:
THE time is approaching when q
eet-toEether conference on the con-
duct of the next congressional cam
and necessary.
1T is first essential that everything
possible be done TO eliminate the
spirit of factionalism which marred
the proceedings of the New York CON
ventiou. Just how this is to be ac-
complished presents an exceedingly
difficult problem.
Leadership Ia Required.
a vitalized leadership is required,
but il cannot come until factional in
fuences are subdued
Two other great difficulties must
be encountered namely:
First. lack of adequate funds with
which to effect proper organization
and to present our appeal.
Second all the great publicity
agencies, including most of the news
papers of general circulation, moving
pictures and radio enterprises are DOM
mated through ownership by Republi-
cans.
The Democrats need very badly
strong newspapers in Washington and
other political centers. At present we
suffer under the very great disadvan-
tage of being unable to reach the pub
lie eye and ear because our political
adversaries control largely the great
agencies for publicity.
Difficulties Arc Great.
Whether and how these difficulties
may be overcome challenges the con-
sideration and concerted action of all
who desire to see our party affairs
efficiently managed
Mr.. Roosevelt's proposal is explained
In detail in a letter received from him
by Senator Walsh of Montana. perma-
nent chairman of the last Democratic
national convention.
Early in the Winter Mr.. Roosevelt
sent letters to all the delegates ask
ing what they thought should be done
10 bring the Democratic party again
into harmonious action and power. In
his lettc& to Senator Walsh Mr..
Roosevelt said that he had received
replies from many of the delegates,
and that a majority of the replies
concur in five proposals, as follows:
Want Permanent Activity.
The national committee, or its eX-
ccutive machinery, should function
every day in every year and not
merely in presidential election years.
The national committee should be
brought into closer touch with State
organizations.
The executive machinery for year
in and year out work should be put
on continuing and businesslike
financial basis.
Publicity for fundamental party
policy and for the dissemination OF
current information should be great
ly extended.
Party leaders from all sections
should meet more frequently TO eX-
change views and plan for united
party action.
Candidates Not Discussed.
Mr.. Roosevelt, who was campaign
manager for Gov. Alfred L. Smitf
of New York in the presidential nomi-
nation fight last year, also wrote Sen
ator Walsh that the discussion of can
didates for the next national election
should be eliminated at this time.
BY adhering to principles rather
than personalities for the next three
years we shall go far toward sue
cess" he said
Mr.. Roosevelt declared in his letter
that his correspondents were over
whelmingly agreed that the Democ-
rscy must be unqualifiedly the party
representative of progress and liberal
thought"
In other words" he said. the clear
line of demarkation which differen-
tiated the political thought of Jeffer-
son on the one side and of Hamilton
on the other must be restored. The
Democracy must make it clear that
it seeks primarily the good of the
average citizen through the free rule
of the whole electorate, as opposed
10 the Republican party, which seeks
a mere moneyed prosperity of the Ma
tion through the control of govern
ment by a self-appointed aristocracy
of wealth and of social and economic
power.
Basic Issues Stressed.
THE letters l have received are
also insistent that the Democratic
party shall not, nationally, in the
future confuse with basic principles
those matters of momentary or
temporary nature which are prin-
cipally of local interest"
Senator Walsh, in replying with
an Endorsement of the proposal for
2 national conference, said there was
= remarkable similarity in the opin-
ions Mr.. Roosevelt had epitomized
and those conveyed to him by many
members of the party "solicitous
about it's future, regardless of who
may bear its honors or it's burdens
Il entertain no doubt that the
chairman of the national committee
would gladly entertain a suggestion
for the calling of such a conference
emanating from dozen or perhaps
a score of representative Democrats
from various sections of the coun.
fry" he added