The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-09-25

egy. Republican master-mlnub, no longer downcast regarding 1898, have adopted the old mili- tary axiom: The best defense is . strong attack.
 From now, the tactical objec- tive of the COP will be to mnneuver the democrats con- stantly into the defensive. The more explaining the New Deal- ca have to do, the weaker be- cc .aes their position.
 This strategy is what is'behind the secret COP decision to hold their national convention after the democrats. Additionally, 1t is held before. But this year, republican master-minds don't want to pass up the chance to ct.lcentrate witheuing barrage on the newly adopted demo. cr..tic platform.
 Official Agenda
 Officially, today's (Wednes- day's) committee meeting deals chiefly with such prosaic things as:
 l., Plans for the 1888 con-
 vention-Ofiicially the city and
 date are picked when the full
 committee meets in December. Actually, today's committee is
 the power behind the scenes.
 2. Finances-The national
 committee is in the black and
 more cash is rolling in.
 3. National Craftsmanship
 There Is agitation to ease
 out dapper Henry P. Fletcher. Unofficial Agenda
 Far more important, however, is an item not listed on the agenda. It is the question of whether the republican party will go progressive or conserva- tive in 1886; whether 1t will swing to the Borah-Landon lib- erals or to the Hoover-Knox conservatives.
 The executive committee does not choose candidates. But it does pitch the tune. The tune may not be sung aloud for the time being. But the underton refrain sounded today may be hummed by the leaders during the first of the presidential cam paign year.
 What that tune may be can be gauged by a scrutiny of the Background chars err, the wealth or poverty, the associates and experience of the executive committee. It's members are fairly representative of the [ whole national committee. Here they are:
 The Roll-C Call
 Chairman Henry Prather Fletcher = scion of a wealthy Pennsylvania fam ly, who adopted the life of diplomacy at the age of thirty, and carved out 8 career notable for personal popularity and the iron-fsted protection of American interests.
 Vlcc Chairman Ralph +. Wll- llams-small town Oregon bank CT; began as bookkeeper; work ed his way up to the presidency of the bank. plus bigger things in Portland.
 Vice Chairman Mrs. Alvin T. Hert - of the charming aristoc- racy of Kentucky; a lady of both boise and force who took over her husbands business and now heads the American Creosoting company.
 Vice Chairman J. Henry Rora- back of Connecticut - president seven New England utility com- panies, director of four Hartford insurance companies, besides a bank, a railroad and a couple of manufacturing concerns. For years he dominated the politics of Connecticut, even during the days of Hoover, for whom he had no love.
 Secretary George Kcim of New \ Jersey - retired leather manu- facturer and banker who in his latter days of leisure has been chiefly concerned with clipping coupons, with politics, historical societies and sports.
 Treasurer George r. Gctz of IIlinois--operator of several coal companies; director of two banks, one newspaper, o ne hotel, one manufacturing com pany; and a sports promoter of no mean fame.
 General Counsel John Hamll- ton of Kansas - Topeka lawyer and among the newer blood in the republican national commit tee. A leaner toward progress sivism, he is a booster for Gov ernor Ali Landon of Kansas helped William Allen White or. ganizc the Grass Roots Confer encc and was urged as commit tee chairman instead of Fletcher
 Mark Requa of California One of the closest buddies of Herbert Hoover; assistant tc him as food administrator; mysterious political wiser while his friend was in the White House; today busy Wlth oil and mining.
 George A. Bali of Indiana of Mason fruit jar fame; oper. ates a glass factory, 0 railroad dictaphope company: two banks packing plant, furniture, cement and various other factories. Lawrence c. Phipps of Colo rado. = ex-partner of Andrew Carnegie, muiti-millionaire ant former member of the senate. Charles ID. Hilles of New Yorl -ex-czar of the republican national committee; Hoover'i bitterest foe within the ranks though for purely persona reasons (basic economic philos' ophy is idsnticalD; a director oi various banks. elevator com panies, "The "Katy" railroad New York Life, Anglo Chilean Nitrate, General Cables, othel big corporations.
 Walter F. Brown, of Ohio political hatchet man and post