Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1935-10-10

Washington.-Th Republican party
leadership has made its first moves for
the 1886 campaign.
G. O. p. Ready The executive COM
for Fichf mittee of the Re-
publica n. national
committee has held meeting here, a
session that started and ended with
enthusiasm bubbling over. The rea-
son the members gave for all of their
Joy was, as expressed by Chairman
Henry P. Fletcher. that 1.-THE tide has
definitely turned and we are going out
to defeat President Roosevelt for re-
election"
Whether all of this joy is justified,
no one can tell, but certainly the Re-
publican wheelhorses for the first time
in almost FIVE years have shown signs
Of genuine fight. They are convinced
that Mr.. Roosevelt and his New Deal
are in tail-spin and they are COM
mitted now to help the present admin
istration to continue until it crashes
help 1t by calling attention to every
shortcoming and every mistake 1t has
made.
While, as l said, the executive COM
mittee meeting simply dubbed over
with enthusiasm, unbiased observers
could not help reaching the conclusion
after they watched the situation that
the committee did very little of a con-
structive nature. 1t may be that this
group was not intended to map out
many plans, but II it did not have that
purpose, one is inclined to rise and in
quire: Why hold a meeting?
The one outstanding action taken
was the authorization given Chairman
Fletcher to establish a young Repub-
lican club division in the national
committee headquarters here. The
rest Of the session that lasted all day
apparently was given over to the ex-
change of ideas. All politicians and
observers as well recognize the neces-
sity for the exchange of ideas but the
question Is being asked around WASH
ington what they are going to do with
these ideas.
Rank and file Republicans may take
heart in the circumstances that brought
their party leader
See IL as ship to headquarters
Good Sign four months earlier
than they ordinarily
meet. 1t is good sign. from the Re
publican standpoint. 1t ought to mean
that they are all set to do business
and to keep doing business until they
have elected candidate to the Presi-
dency in November, 1896. But still,
none Of the Washington writer's was
able to determine exactly what is go
ing to be done. The Washington writ
ers can hardly be blamed, if inside in
formation that leaks out is correct,
because the executive committee real
ly did not get very far with any plans.
/ said above that the wheelhorses ap-
peared to be full of fight. There was
every evidence Of this. There was
also evidence of possibilities, at least,
that there may be family fights. There
Is no doubt that many members of
the national committee do not like
Chairman Fletcher. Likewise, Chair
man Fletcher is not enthusiastic about
certain members of the committee over
which he presides. 1t is made to APP
pear, therefore, that there may be
some mud Singing before the, machine
is attuned for the campaign next year.
II there Is much of 1t, the Republican
n.
Is preparing to spend, as money al
ways Is spent In a campaign, to de-
feat Mr.. Roosevelt. 1t won't have a
chance If 1t is going to fight without
q united front against such opposition
as the President and his party set-up
is prepared to give.
1t may have been by coincidence or
It may have been by design but what
Won't Help action Of Robert n.
Either Lucas. former execu-
tive head OF the Re-
publican national committee, In filing
a libel suit against one OF the party
members is not going to help either
Mr.. Lucas or Charles d. Hilles. ma
tional committeeman from New Pork.
Mr.. Lucas has sued Mr.. Hilles and
Frank r. Kent, Baltimore newspaper
eolumnist and political commentator.
for $2OOOO0 libel He charged in a
suit tled on the same day that the
executive committee met here that
Mr.. Hilles and Mr.. Kent were con
spiring" to destroy him politically. II
Is unlikely that Mr.. Lucas can sustain
his charges in court but whether he
can or cannot sustain them. the court
action against a prominent member OF
his own party, u nan with whom he
was associated in party leadership.
naturally will have 4 diSrupting infiu-
ence II win 20 far beyond the two
personalities involved because obvious
y the names Of other party leaders
win be dragged in
Mr.. Kent said after learning OF the
libel action that Mr.. Lucas was acting
silly and be was not alarmed at all.