Evening star., 1925-05-27
OLDF|ELD SLATED
FOR SHAVER'S lob
Democrats May Make Him
Chairman in Fight for
Congress Power.


Democratic whip OF the House and
sional committee, is slated to head the
Democratic national committee on the
retirement of Glenn Shaver of West
Virginia from that Office, IL plans OF
the party leaders materialize.
The big job confronting the Demo
Gratis at present Is the campaign next
year TO elect a Democratic Congress,
if possible. and IL that is not possible,
to make as great gains in the Senate
and House as possible.
Representative Oldfield was the
choice of the House Democrats TO
lead this campaign. 1t Is now pro-
posed that he shall be clothed with the
additional power of chairman Of the
national committee, and that the two
committees practically shall be CO.
ordinated for the purpose OF putting
the Democrats in a commanding posi-
tion again in 1927, ready to make the
national race in the following year.
If Mr.. Oddfield becomes chairman
of the national committee, il is likely
that he will continue as head also
Of the Congressional committee. Unless
the work should become unusually
burdensome, there is every reason to
believe that he can hold down both
jobs during the coming year at
least. There is no national campaign
until 1928 and the whole effort of the
Democrats will concentrate on the
election of majority in Congress and
the control Of State governments.
Net Involved i'm Rows.
The Democratic whip of the House
has been involved in none of the
factional rows which split the Demo
cratic party assunder last year. He
is a great worker and thoroughly
verSed in the game of politics. Ac-
cording to information obtained here,
the leaders of the various groups in
the party are wiling that he should
assume the leadership as national
chairman.
Mr.. Shaver, who was chosen chair
man of the national committee at the
request of John w. Davis after the
latter's nomination for President, is
understood to be willing and anxious
to step out of 1pffice as soon as a
compromise candidate fer the position
satisfactory to the different factions
is found. The chairman was in New
York yesterday testifying in a suit
brought against the national COM
mittee for funds alleged 10 be due for
advertising.
According to information here. he
IL LIKELY 10 Cdll lIt ildllUlidi COul-
mittee together within few weeks
for the election of Mr.. Oldfield. The
debt of the Democratic national com
mittee. incurred during the last CAM
paign. has been underwritten largely
through the efforts of Mr.. Shaver.
The selection of Mr.. Oldfield to head
Democratic national committee would,
in a measure, consolidate the over
head expenses OF the national
mittee at A time when Democratic
finances are not at the highest. II
is believed that the national commit
tee can play an important part in the
coming congressional elections. AS
matter of fact, the Republican ma
tional committee, headed by Senator
Butler of Massachusetts, is already
planning to throw its full assistance
TO the Republican congressional COM
mittee in the coming compaign. Sen
ator Butler is to make a trip through
the Middle West and West this Sum
mer and Fall, with this object in view.
Final Word Lacking.
If the final word is said by the Nc
Adoo, Smith and Davis forces, un-
doubtedly the selection of Mr. Oldfield
will soon be ratified, in the opinion
OF we'll informed Democrats here. The
understanding is that already the
leaders have been sounded out and
they have expressed themselves as
favorable to the plan.
The selection of a member of the
House to head the Democratic nation
al committee does not establish a
precedent. Representative CordeIi
Hull of Tennessee. who served as
chairman of the national COMMITTEES,
was member of the House when he
retired last July, and Mr.. Shaver
stepped in. Mr.. Hull, it is true, was
not a member of the House when he
first became national chairman. The
linking up of the national orga MIA
ton more closely with the congress
siopal as now proposed is looked upon
with considerable favor.
Mr. Oldfield at Democratic national
heaauarters today said he had no in
formation regarding the report he
was to be chosen national chairman.
He said, however, that he was plan.
ming an intensive campaign to elect
Democratic Congress next year. He
will confer in Atlantic City Saturday
with a number of Democratic leaders
in regard to the campaigns for the
special elections in New Jersey and
Massachusetts, made necessary by the
deaths of Representative Appleby.
New Jersey, and Representative
Rogers, Massachusetts, both Repub-
licans.
Later Mr.. Oldfield will go to Mis-
souri, and then into Illinois, Indiana,
Oklahoma, Colorado, Nebraska, Ore
gon. Washington, California and
other Western States. He confidently
expects to elect a Democratic House
in 1926 and believes that the Demo-
Gratis have a good chance of carry
Spc q n a
fact that 25 Republican Senators
must make the race for reelection
and only Democrats, all Of the lat
ter in Democratic strongholds of the
South.