Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-11
HARMONY RULES
| AS RASKOB STAYS
Democratic Leaders Plan
National Organization
Drive at Dinner.
CONTINUED From First Page.l

not appear that he is to be endorsed
but it is clear that the party leaders de-
sire to continue to make use of his
ability in organization and finance to
further the interests of the party.
MIR. Shouse, in his address, was en-
phatic in his assertion that Chairman
Raskob and the national organization
are not working in the interest of any
candidate for President in 1882. 1t has
been charged that the present plan foT
Nationwide organization drive was in
the interest of Smith. 1t was to lay this
charge that Mr.. Shouse said:
II can state positively that without
Interior motive, without selfish design or
personal ambition. without reference 10
the candidacy of any man for any
Office, but solely with desire to be of
service to his country through the in
strumentality of the Democratic party.
Mr. Raskob has put into effect the idea
of a permanent working, constructive
organization. There is no Office he
would accept.
No Candidacy to Be Sponsored.
"There is one thing with which the
Washington headquarters will refuse
absolutely TO have any concern. That
is the question of candidates. It is
our duty and our responsibility and
cur effort TO try to build up an effec-
tive fighting force 10 turn over to those
who will direct in the next campaign.
The most unwise, the most destructive
action that could be taken would be to
lend, even to the slightest degree, any
part of the influence or help or en-
enlargement of national headquarters
to the candidacy of any of the various
men who may aspire to the next preSi-
dental nomination. 1 cannot too def
initely impress upon you my earneStneSs
in making this statement.
''I know that Mr.. RaSkob feels eX-
actly as do l, and l call upon you and
upon Democrats everywhere not to en-
barrass the national headquarters in
the constructive work which it will at
tempt TO do by trying even remotely to
relate it or its efforts to the plan for
nomination, no matter who may be
the man concerned or how outstanding
his qualifications.
If we. have an effective, militant or
ganiZation of the party forces ready to
be turned over at the time the next
candidate is nominated his possibili-
ties Of success will be vastly enhanced.
To that, and to that alone. our efforts
will be dedicated This is the plan of
the national chairman, this is the plan
of the executive chairman"
700 Attend Dinner.
Three hundred prominent Democrats
attended the dinner, which was pre-
sided over by Robert N Harper. presi-
dent of the Jefferson Democratic As
ISOLATION. Eleven Senators from South
ern States were present, emphasizing
the fact that harmony prevailed An
equal number of Senators fronf the
South were absent, but several of them
took pains to explain that had 1t not
been for prior engagements they would
have attended, among them Senators
Glass and Swanson of Virginia and
Trammell of Florida. Others who did
not attend were Senator Simmons, who
had declared the dinner to be "inop-
perfume; Senators Smith and Blease
OF South Carolina, George and Harris
of Georgia, Heflin and Black of Ala
bama and Stephens of Mississippi. The
last was ill.
Senator Robinson, Democratic leader
OF the Senate, and Representative
Jack Garner of Texas minority leader
of the House, both were present and
spoke. Senator Overman made an ex-
cept1on to his rule not to attend night
functions to be present at the dinner
Other Senators from the South in at
tendance were Sheppard and Connally
OF Texas, Broussard and Ransdell of
Louisiana, Mcclellan and Tyson of Ten
LScoOCs Val away VI fIkdIlSdS,
OF Mississippi and Fletcher of Florida.
Mrs. Woodrow Wilson, widow of the late
President, was a guest Of honor. The
committee in charge of the dinner did
not invite any of the former party nom
inees for the presidency.
Raskob Speaks First.
The first speaker was Mr.. Raskob. He
was introduced by Mr. Harper. who said:
Although defeated in the last ma
tional campaign, we came out Of it with
unSullied honor. There was complete
lack Of criticism of any wrong doing
and no suspicion of unfair dealings or
sunderland propaganda for political
preferment or promises impossible OF
fulfilment by the great captain of in
dustry who conducted our campaign.
The man who guided US in that
great fight against unusual odds has
honored us by his presence here. His
modest bearing. his rock of- Gibraltar
solldlty and endurance and his amaz-
ing ability to judge men and affairs
have placed him in a business sphere
where he has demonstrated unusual
capacity to meet and conquer the big
problems of industry and commerce.
BY applying the same methods that
nave resulted in business success to
the conduct of the late national cam
paign he has rendered a conspicuous
service TO our party"
Mr.. Raskob, definitely squelched the
report that he intended to resign as
chairman, saying:
Lack Of Organization Appalling.
II hope my remarks tonight will set
at rest all doubt about my continuing :"
He took the Craftsmanship, he said. be-
cause he believed in the principles Of
the Democratic party
.nI,rs .-,.a L.
party was dead" The amazing thing
is" he continued. that with merely a
makeshift organization we should have
accomplished so much. To a man train
ed In business. the Democratic party's
lack OF organization for conducting q
national campaign is appalling"
He called attention to the fact that
VIII Hays, when he took charge as
Republican national chairman, imme-
diately had started, to build a strong
organization and said that the Repub-
lican party still continued to benefit
therefrom.
After explaining his organization pur-
poses, which included naming Mrs. Mel
lie Taylor Ross. former Governor of
wyoming, as member OF the executive
committee to have charge of the
organization of the women, under Mr..
Shouse's direction, Mr. Raskob said a
return TO Democratic principles and
States rights was necessary.
Bureaucracy" AssaiIed.
"In my opinion" he said, the con-
tinuation Of the tendency of the Re-
publican party to centralize greater and
greater powers in our Federal Govern
ment in Washington, instead of building
each of our 48 States into strong SOW
ereignties, is bound to result in a power
so colossal as to be unwieldy and in
capable of administration. The lack