Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-11
HARMONY RULES
AS RASKOB STAYS
Democratic Leaders Plan
National Organization
Drive at Dinner.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

The Democratic national leadership
dedicated itself to work and organiza-
ton" at the dinner given in honor of
Jouett Shouse, newly appointed chair
man of the executive committee of the
Democratic national committee by the
Jefferson Democratic Association of the
District last night at the Maynower
Hotel
The Democratic leaders, representing
all sections of the country, who attend
ed the dinner, today were loud in their
praise of the plans outlined by Mr..
Shouse. who is to have direct charge
of the organization drive, and by Chair
man John J. Raskob Of the Democratic
national committee, who conceived the
project.
Raskob to Work for Party.
Mr.. Raskob is to remain as national
chairman. But he is to labor in the in
terest of party building rather than in
the interest of any particular candidate
for President. This was emphasized by
Mr. Shouse. who declared that the ma
tional organization is to have nothing
to do with candidates. for Office.
Within month, Mr. Raskob told
the diners, the debt of the Democratic
national committee growing out of the
last campaign would be reduced to less
than $350,000. It was originally more
than $l,5o0,000, and his feat in re-
ducing the debt by more than mil
lion dollars In the last six months was
cheered.
The national chairman outlined
briefly the method which will be adopt
ed to wipe out the remainder of the
debt and at the same time raise fund
of S250,0C0 to carry on the campaign
of national organization, which he be-
Flieves is so necessary to success of the
party in the 1890 congressional elec-
tions and in the national election of
1882. 1t calls for an allotment to the
States and by the State organizations
to the county, district and precinct or
ganizations. He estimated that a con-
tribution Of 81 a voting precinct would
raise the fund needed.
All Sectional Leaders Present.
Gathered about the board last night
were the leaders of the Democratic
party in both the Senate and the House.
The North, the South the East and the
West were all represented. There was
no sign of discord: All united in the
demand for more organization and for
hard work. The soft pedal was on so
far as candidates. and policies are con-
cerned, except the policy of organiza-
ton and of active opposition to the Re-
publican party.
The dinner had run most of its
course before there was an allusion
made to the last Democratic presi-
Dental nominee, former Gov. Alfred E.
Smith Even then, Mr.. Smith was not
named. But when Representative
Byrns of Tennessee, chairman of the
Democratic congressional committee.
referred to him as the leader in the last
campaign, there were cheers with the
guests on their feet some Of them
waving their handkerchiefs.
A little later Senator Overman of
North Carolina, who supported Smith
IN the campaign although his colleague,
Senator Simmons, attacked the Smith
candidacy, declaring that he was an
"unterrified Democrat said that mo
cold chills run down my spine at the
mention of the leader of the Democratic
party in the last campaign" and again
there was an outburst of cheering.
Senator Overman predicted that North
Carolina, which swung to President
Hoover last November, would again be
In the Democratic column when the
next election takes place.
Again and again the speakers gave
praise to Chairman Raskob for the
work he has accomplished and for the
plans of organization which he has de-
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