The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-03-05
Chairman Raskob Of
 Democrat Committee
 Opens With Surprise
Told Members, as Session Began, That He Hoped No Action Would Be Taken on Any Policies at This Meeting

selected SenatOr-elect CordeIl Hull, democrat, Tennessee, as their lead- CT in the event of fight on the floor.
 Proceedings at the meeting were delayed while photographers posed Raskob and Jouett Shouse, execu- tive chairman of the national com mittee, on the platform. Former Governor Alfred l.. Smith of New York. was not present when the meeting began.
 Burt New of Indiana was desig- mated acting secretary in the ab- sence of Charles Greenhouse, Indi- ana, secretary. The call of the committee, outlined it's purposes to consider finances and policies. was read.
 Raskob said he would make "gen- eral recommendations to the com mittee this afternoon.
 Raskob addressed the assembled democrats from a dais at the end of room almost block long, and although comparative newcomer to politics. his manner was de- termined and forceful. After preliminary routine business which included ratification of changes in the national committee since the Houston convention, Raskob read a telegram from John W. Davis, 1924 presidential candi- date, who is in Florida and regretted inability to be present. Davis congratulated the party on it's energetic" leadership, and urged more frequent interim meetings of the committee such as this scare headlines to the contrary notwith- standing. His telegram contained the customary prediction of victory at the next election.
 Some laughter and much applause greeted resolution of Texas legis- iature, which asserted that "a politi- cal waywardness Is now forgotten" and said Texas, which went for Hoover in 1928 "once more Is as- suming the place in the political sun to which the Lone Star state Is so justly entitled"
 Shouse without mentioning names struck at reports that the party management favored the candidacy when he spoke.
 We are looking for counsel from democrats everywhere" Shouse de- clared. We are not interested and haven't at any time, in the question of individual candidates"
 We are interested in building vic. tory for the party but we shall not be interested in advancing the can- didacy of anyone.
 This noble experiment that the democratic party put into operation May l, 1929, has several months to run before it is two years old," he said.
 At that time. he said. the party fortunes were at a low ebb due to the defeat of the party in vote for the ticket. The election last November showed, he said, turn over of 100000 votes favorable to democratic candidates.
 There is no incident where party losing control of congress in the off, year elections did not lose the presi- dency two years later. he said.
 "The democratic party has the opportunity to capitalize in the most striking way the attitude made known in behalf of that multitude of the voters of the country" he added.
 Mrs. Nellie Tayfoe Ross, former governor of Wyoming, and chairman of the women's division of the com- mittee urged women to cooperate in organizing for the next campaign.
 Mrs Ross got laugh when she said:
 Let me assure you that feminine nature does not change and I will suggest to you men that little woo- ing from you is wonderfully effec- tive"
 She was referring to her campaign 10 persuade women to join in organ ized party work. The meeting re- cessed at 11:30 until 1880.
 Thomas Love, of Texas, former national committeeman, who opposed committee, was present to-day With the proxy of former Governor Os- wald West of Oregon.
 Alfred b. Smith, sitting unobtru- sively and almost unobserved in the hallway outside the committee room. held impromptu court as the com mitteemen and women came out after adjournment. They surround ed the former governor. He ex- poets to address the meeting this aft ernoon he said.
 The committee succeeded in ex- cIuding from the morning proceed ings any direct reference to prohi- bition Or to former Governor Smith. Neither was the name of President Hoover mentioned directly.
 Senator Harrison (Dem). North Carolina, a member of the national committee who on the senate floor recently referred to Raskob as Gov- ernor Smiths monumental biun- der" expressed dissatisfaction to-day with Raskob's announced intention to present some general recommen- dations to the committee.
 "Of all the absurd foolishness ever perpetrated in America" aaid Morri- son. "It's an exhibition of efffront- cry and conceit without parallel"
 Senator Connolly (Dem), Texas. said he thought Raskob's plan was