The Washington times., 1929-05-01
RASKOB' 5 PARTY
LEADERSHIP
NEAR END
By GEORGE R. HOLMES

Dropping Democratic spirits, at
low ebb since the great holocaust
in November, had a shot of spring
tonic today.
The announcement that permanent
Democratic national headquarters
are to be established in the Capital,
to function militanaly and aggres-
sively 365 days in the year, was
greeted with applause and enthu-
siasm by all factions of the party.
Chairman John J. Raskob made
the announcement. In doing so he
left the impression that his retire
ment may not be far distant.
S75O,OO0 Cut Away
That deficit, which totalled ST.
$50 900 last November, has now been
reduced to some 100000 with ex-
cellent prospects, he said, that it
would be under 100000 by June l.
Whether Raskob retires or not,
the spearhead of Democratic activity
in Washington Is to be Jouett
Shouse, Kentucky-born and Kansas
reared. one of the original McAdoo
men, and long experienced in the
game of national politics.
SlOuS6 Is u S1fO up
ness affairs in Kansas City and
Missouri and devote all his time to
building for the future, with Wash
ington as his headquarters, and the
whole country for his range.
Democratic fortunes are to be
directed by the executive committee,
and not the national committee it.
self.
The executive committee is to be
kept small, its members including
such stalwarts as Franklin D.
Roosevelt, of New York: Senator
Key Pittman, of Nevada. Senator
Pat Harrison, of Mississippi, former
Senator Peter G. Gerry, of Rhode
Island and a few others, with
Shouse functioning as its director.
Chairman Raskob will continue to
take a part in it's deliberations, but
in the rather apparent self efface-
ment Of the millionaire fiancier
Washington observers saw today
shrewd piece of strategy.
Popularity Wanes
It is no secret that Raskob is not
popular with the southern wing OF
the party. There have been open
demands for his resignation ever
since last November. The anti
Smith element in the South and
West have constantly kept up the
cry: "Rid us of Raskob and Smith" :"
So long as Raskob kept functioning
as chairman there was constant
irritant to Southern sensibilities.
Now, by the selection of Shouse
TO become the party oracle in
Washington, much of the organiza-
ton work will be taken off Raskob's s
shoulders and put upon those of a
man who was Southern-born, West
with all of the divergent factions
ern-reared, and as nearly popular
of the party as it is possible for
any Democrat to be.
Shouse was one Of the floor
managers for McAdoo at Madison
Square Garden in 1924.
He was Western manager for
Smith during the late campaign.
He has the confidence of both
groups.
A New Spirit Dawns
Aside from this happy COM
promise, the mere fact that the
Democrats are to have real head
quarters in Washington, with
functioning organization, is in itself
a tonic to dropping Democratic
spirits.
Not Since the Wilson admisitra-
tion has the party maintained an
aggressive national headquarters in
Washington. Between campaigns a
skeleton office force has been main
tained in a couple of rooms with
stenographer usually in charge.
Only quadrennially has the organi.
cation come to life for the few hectic
months that intervene between
nomination and election.