Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-05

audiences used to sit. A dynamite blast
slowly pulled over by cable and block
theater walls and gallery still stand, bu
place of the theater there will soon be {
seeking employment, an abundance of
capital seeking safe investment, and
nothing happens.
1T is sad commentary on life
that We have millions of bushels of ex-
cess wheat and unlimited idle tonnage
while people are starving.
Just before the committee meeting
opened former Gov. Smith of New York
and forcer Gov. Cox of Ohio, Demo-
cratical presidential candidates in 1928
and 1920, respectively, were escorted to
the platform. The committee rose and
applauded vigorously.
At the opening of the meeting Mr..
Raskob made it clear that the Demo-
cratic National Committee will not be
asked to take action on any policy"
including prohibition, at this time.
His statement was greeted with ap-
plauSe The fear of an attempt on the
part of the national chairman to put
the committee on record in favor of
repeal or revision of the national pro-
hibition laws has stirred Democratic
try for weeks.
The call for the meeting of the
national committee declared that party
policies would be discussed and plan
submitted for financing the national
organization.
Not only did Mr.. Raskob say that he
would TASK for no action of any kind"
on matters of policy. but he added:
Il hope that no attempt viii be made
to force action on party policies at this
meeting"
Shouse Outlines Work.
The statement by Mr.. RaSkob caused
many in the Democratic meeting to
heave a sigh of relief. Harmony,
which has been absent from Demo-
cratic national gatherings because Of
the prohibition issue, seemed to be
restored, at least temporarily.
The chairman called upon Jouett
Shouse, chairman of the Executive
Committee of the Democratic National
Committee, to tell what the national
organization has been doing the last
% months to aid the Democratic cause.
MIR. Shouse declared emphatically
that the Democratic organization built
up under his direction and with the ap-
prevail of Chairman Raskob would not
interest itself in behalf of any candi-
date for the presidential nomination.
This declaration by Shouse was ap-
plauded vigorously. The assertion has
been made IN some quarters that the
Democratic national organization was
intent upon debating the nomination
Of candidate.
There is one thing" said Mr.. Shouse,
that wish to emphasize. We are not
in individual candidates.. We will do
all we can to build up the party for
victory, but we shall refuse to support
the candidacy of any man for thu
nomination"
Urges United Front.
Before he introduced Mr.. Shouse to
the committee, Chairman Raskob de-
clared the need of united front in
the coming national campaign. Much,
he said, had been done by the national
organization under Mr.. Shouse's direc-
ton already.
Referring to the establishment of the
permanent Democratic national or
ganization with headquarters here as
noble experiment" Mr.. Shouse told
the committee that although the or
ganization was not yet two years old,
it had already accomplished much for
the party.
It was conceived and set up by Mr..
party fortunes were at a low ebb; when
States which ordinarily were counted as
surely Democratic had gone Repub-
lican. He said that the effort of the
organization had been to aid the DEM
ocratic members of Congress and TO
provide them with material obtained
by research and, through the Public
/ ity Bureau, to keep the people informed
Of the attitude of the Democratic party
mr.
the Publicity Bureau, headed by Charles
Nicholson, drew applause.
Cites Congressional Gains.
Mr.. Shouse said that the Democratic
party in the congressional elections last
Fall had made sweeping gains. He said
he did not make bold to claim gains
would not have been made If the or
ganization had not been set up, but
that he did claim that the splendid
party leadership in both houses of Con-
gresS and the organization work had
| been effective in bringing victory.
THAT victory would not have been SC
devastating to the enemy, so widespread
| otherwise" he said.
Mr.. ShouSe insisted that the victory
had been more devastating to the Re-
publican enemy than appeared on the
surface; that in many districts Repub-
IlCdl IudJOElLieS IldO DeSu WlpeQ OUT or
reduced to a minimum.
while we did not carry an actual
majority of either house of Congress. -
he continued, "it is clear that the ad-
miniStration has lost control of the leg
islatiye branch of the Government in
/ the next Congress. Any one familiar
with political history since the Civil
War knows that in no instance where
| party has lost control of the Legis-
lature at the midway mark in an adj
ministration has it failed to lose the
presidency two years later
Pledges Cooperation.
Opportunity, Mr.. Shouse said. is
knocking at the door of the Democratic
party He pledged the organization to
continued cooperation with the Demo-
Gratis in Congress, with the National
Committee and with the State Com
| mittees.
Mrs. Nellie Tayloe Ross, former Gov
ernor of Wyoming and in charge of
woman activities for the Democratic
National Committee, told what had been
| done since the last national campaign
TO strengthen the hold of the Demo-
] cratic party on the woman voters. She
said she was aDDallpd hOuever af the