Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-07
Fess and Lucas Immediately
Named to Direct G. o. P.
Campaign Activities.
TENNESSEAN DENIES
ABSENCE OF SUPPORT
Xeim Named to Succeed Represent.
alive Fort as Secretary of
National Committee.

~ the Associated Press.
Claudius H. Huston of Tennessee SUBJ
united his promised resignation as Re-
publican national chairman to the
party's Executive Committee today and
direction of the Fall campaign was
turned over to Senator Fess of Ohio
and Robert H. Lucas Of Kentucky.
Fess, stanch administration supporter
vas appointed chairman Of the National
Committee.
It had been announced FeSs woulc
be made provisional chairman, pending
o Fall meeting of the committee tc
select a permanent chairman. James
Francis Burke. general counsel, said
however, 1t had been found the Exec
utive Committee had full powers and
TeSs' selection would not have to be
ratified later.
Lucas, present commissioner of inter
nal revenue, was named to the new post
Of executive director to take active
charge of national headquarters here.
He will carry the burden of directing
the party forces in the approaching
campaign and will resign his Treasury
post soon to devote his entire time to
the new job.
George Deb. Keim, Edgewater Park,
n. j., retired banker, was appointed
secretary of the National Committee to
succeed Representative Franklin Fort,
New Jersey, resigned.
Other vacancies on the National
Committee filled at the meeting were
Ernest Lee Jahncke, Assistant Secre-
tary of the Navy, national committee
man from Louisiana, to succeed the late
Emile Kuntz.
Ezra r. Whitla, Occur d. Alene, ma
AaA SvN
place Of Senator Thomas, resigned.
Both Make Addresses.
Both Fess and Lucas were present
q the meeting and made brief adj
dresses.
In submitting his resignation. Huston
said:
mo man in political life has ever
been subjected TO more unjust and un-
warranted attacks"
the organization an opportunity OF Sc
Letting leader free from the present
fsctional opposition and VIII permit me.
without embarrassing others, to pursue
a course that will insure In the minds
Of the Republicans of the country my
right to their continued esteem and
confidence"
"As heretofore announced" Huston
said, st have determined to retire as
chairman Of the Republican Nationai
Committee.
"For a lifetime I have been q mem
her and an active worker tn the Re-
publican party. have never sought
once or reward in any form. 1t was
with desire to promote its success ana
that of the administration that, upon
the urging of party leaders, agreed TO
accept the chairmanship. ] realized
that this course involved many sacrifices
and In order to service more effectively
withdrew from active business.
Charges Persecution.
when became chairman I expected
20 bear philosophically the usual burden
Of criticism and abuse that has come to
be recognized as the penalty attaching
TO high places In American politics. Al
most Immediately persistent campaign
of persecution was instituted for the
purpose of injuring my effectiveness.
THE attack was directed generally
against the Republican party and the
administration, but as chairman be-
came the main target Of abuse and of
q whispering campaign, with its usual
accompaniment of falSehoods. The
subsequent evidence established the fact
that there was no truth In these
charges.
every accuSaJlOn maze Dy Tic ocu-
ate lobby committee was so COM
pletely refuted that its final report TO
the Senate charged no wrongdoing, and
the opposing party. since that time. has
found no advantage in pursuing me
further.
st am conscious of my own integrity.
I have never been accustomed to give
ground under fire.
Seeks Party Benefit.
Every personal inclination I have Is
TO fight this thing to finish, especially
In view of the unfair tactics that have
been employed and it is on that &C
count that I have delayed my present
action until now.
In the past it has been the policy OF
the party leaders to maintain a SOHO
front when under the enemy FIRE, but
as this has not been the policy in the
present case have reached the con-
clusion, putting the interest Of the Re
publican party ahead of personal con-
sideration, that should tender my res
ignation, for am wholly unwilling to
be accused of imposing any burdens
personal to me upon the party during
the coming senatorial and congressional
campaign. am sure that no such
risk exists, but rather than incur the
charge of creating it, prefer to with
draw
The new alignment of the Republican
Continued on Page 2, Column a.