Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-08
HOOVER SEEN BACK
.OF KEEPING HUSTON
President Refused to SaCri-
flee Personal Friend for
Political Expediency.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

President Hoover's loyalty to his
friend, Claudius II. Huston, has pre-
vented the resignation Of the Republi-
can national chairman.
Most of the Republican Senators
wanted Mr.. Huston to resign. He was
ready to retire II his chief asked him
to do 50. To have requested the resig-
nation of Mr.. Huston would have meant
the sacrifice of personal friend for
political expediency.
So far as 1882 is concerned there Is
still plenty Of time for the Republican
National Committee to get new chair
man when all the excitement has died
down and the attack of Mr.. Huston is
diminished
Like RaskOb Situation.
In a sense the situation with respect
to the Republican national chairman Is
somewhat analogous to that which ex-
lists with respect to the Democratic
national chairman, John j. Raskob.
Immediately after the sweeping defeat
administered TO Gov. Smith and par
ticuarly the split in the solid South,
there arose demand for the resigna-
| ton of Mr.. Raskob. Feeling was Just
| about as intense inside the party coun-
i eli as 1t is today over Mr.. Huston's
retention of the chairmapship, except
that different set of reasons actuates
the Republican leaders, who think the
| revelations about Mr.. Huston's connec-
ton with the Muscle Shoals project, as
outlined by the Senate Lobby Commit
tee, impairs his usefulness.
The Democrats got out of their diem
ma by persGading Jouett Shouse to
become chairman of an executive COM
mittee and really to assume command
| of operations in the field while Mr..
| RaSkob withdrew into the background.
| Republicans have the same opportunity.
Most of the members of the Senate
want Senator Fess of Ohio to lead the
battle this Autumn and It would not
be surprising II he became the active
leader of the Republican campaign.
He has had experience as chairman of
| the Senate Congressional Campaign
Committee. He is an exceptionally
good stump speaker and is thoroughly
| familiar, himself, with all the issues
| that are likely to be emphasized in the
| campaign. including prohibition.
| The need for Republican national
chairman in an off-year election 10
| greatest only in relation to Congress-
| There Is q certain amount of work to
be done in strengthening State organi-
cations or in retaining the momentum
acquired in the presidential campaign,
but generally speaking the battle Is
fought in congressional districts with
very little help from the national or.
| ganization. This is not saying, how.
| ever that in past years effective work
has not been done by the respective fia~
tioral committees in trying to elect q
Congress of q particular political COM
| pleXion.
Republicans Disseminated.
| The hulabaloo about Mr.. Huston's
situation is all part of a discomfort
among Republicans, who realize that
In q year of business depression 1t IA
hard enough to carry on q campaign
anyhow, without having opponents at
tack the Republican national chairman
who, presumably, represents the White
House when Republican President Ia
in power.
The big question really is whether
Mr.. Huston can get funds for the con-
gressional campaign, or whether some
one else will have to do the money rais-
ing.
There is talk Of asking Robert n,
Lucas, commissioner of internal reve.
nue., to become chairman of the HepuE-
lican Executive Committee, but il Il
! not believed that a decision has been
reached as between him and Senator
Fess. Certainly, the rnonev-raiSinR
SIDE IS likely to be delegated to some
one other than Mr.. Huston.
Copyright, 1930)