Evening star., 1934-12-21
Chairman Fletcher Backed
and Proposal to Reorgan.
ize Lacks Support.
POLL LEANS TOWARD
PRESENT POLICIES
Senator Borah Not Discouraged
at Defeat of Stand and Will
Continue Fight.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.


Proponents of the "liberalize the Re-
publican party" movement through a
reorganization of the G. o. p. Ma
tional Committee need not look to
the National Committee for aid at
this time.
This has been disclosed through
letters sent to Chairman Henry p,
Fletcher by members Of the National
Committee, expressing warm approval
of a statement issued by him on De-
cember 4, replying to the demand OF
Senator william E. Borah OF Idaho
for the reorganization of the National
Committee and Fletcher's retirement
as chairman.
Fletcher is Backed.
Every one of the letters received
and they have come from nearly every
State, approved the Fletcher state
ment. IN that statement Mr.. Fletcher
had stated he had no intention OF
resigning as chairman at this time
and that If his opponents desired a
change, the rule of the committee pro-
vided that petition signed by 16
committeeman could bring about q
meeting. It is clear from the letters
now received at headquarters that a
petition would not receive the req
uisite number Of signatures.
Chairman Fletcher made 1t plain
today that he and the committee
headquarters here had attempted no
poll Of the committee on this subject
When he issued his formal statement
on December he merely sent copies
of the statement to the members Of
the National Committee. He made
no request for any reply or comment
from the members. Since then, how
ever. letters have been received from
a great majority Of the members.
Present Policies Favored.
A poll was taken, however, by
some members of the National Com
mittee and the responses are said
to have been entirely favorable tc
the retention of Mr.. Fletcher a
chairman and in favor of carrying
on as at present. This poll showed
that committee members in 43 o,
the 4s States were against the re-
organization plans, and that the only
States from which replies have not
yet been received are Idaho, North
and South Dakota, Minnesota and
Montana.
Senator Borah has urged that, Il
the national committee and the States
committees declined to bring about re-
and the elimination Of
leaders who have, in the public mind
been considered allied with the ''in.
terests," movement not unlike tht
Bull Moose Of 1912, get under way
and set up another national organi-
zation.
He spoke, along with Senator Nye
in New York recently, urging that thu
Young Republican Clubs Throughout
the country become the nucleus fol
the proposed new organization.
It has been quite apparent for soms
time that the present leadership ol
the G. o. P. would not voluntarily
step aside and remove itself from
control. The decision of the member!
of the national committee, as re.
vealed by the poll, not to removs
Mr.. Fletcher and pick another chair,
man, was expected.
Borah to Continue Fight.
Senator Borah said today that h
had not the slightest intention o.
abandoning the campaign for a re-
organized leadership in the Repub
ncan party. He had expected, h,
said, that the members of the nationa
committee would not join in such {
reorganization movement. He sale
that he looked forward to a lont
campaign to bring about the change.
desired.
Senator Dickinson of Iowa today
expressed his entire approval not only
of the stand taken by Senator
Fletcher. but also Of the apparent de.
termination of the members Of tht
(C0ntinfed IN pore Co1IIY,on AZ