Evening star., 1937-09-26
TWO 0PART|ES FACE
MAJOR PROBLEMS
Impending Resignation of
Farley and 1898 Farley
to Get Consideration.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.
The Democratic administration and
the Republican National Committee
both have interesting political prob
lens for early solution.
President Roosevelt, as head Of the
Democratic administration, must de-
eide if and when Postmaster General
James A. Farley Is to step out of the
. Cabinet-and who is to be his sue
cessor.
The Republican National Commit
tee, which is slated to meet the first
or second week in November, will
have before it proposal for Re-
publican national convention-or con-
ference-to be held in the Spring
of 1898. Although there are oppo-
nents to the idea of holding a con-
vention, chances are it will be held.
Mr.. Farley is reported to be about
ready to relinquish his Cabinet job
IN order to become president of the
Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Co. From
Washington sources close to the Post
master General, it was declared yes
terday that he will stick on for
while longer" though how long no
one seemed to know. There was a
reticence about future engagements
for Farley that left a feeling his
retirement from the Post Office De-
partment might come at any time.
Coldness Held Unlikely.
1t is entirely unlikely, however. that
Farley will leave the cabinet until the
President is ready to relinquish him.
Little credence was placed in sugges-
tions that coldness has sprung UP
between the President and Farley be-
cause OF the Black appointment to the
Supreme Court. While 1t is true that
Farley was surprised" along with the
rest of the country, by the appoint
ment of Justice Black, and it is under
stood he attempted to make an elev-
enth-hour protest to the White House,
1t is asserted he is still the good friend
OF the President he has always been.
Even when he leaves the cabinet,
Farley is expected to remain chair
man OF the Democratic National Com
mittee. That is a post which is not
likely to be held by a man not on the
best of terms with the President-cer-
taiuly the present Chief Executive. It
has been said repeatedly that the
President could find new Postmaster
General at any time, but that he could
not find a man who would fill the bill
as chairman of the Democratic Ma
tional Committee as does Big jim"
Reports that Farley was on his way
cut of the cabinet have been heard at
almost regular intervals ever since
1888. However it is known that Far
ley has desired to get back into pri-
vate business for some time, and that
the Pierce Arrow presidency has been
offered him. A cabinet Office pays
only $4,000 year, and the expenses
of cabinet officer in Washington are
large. The motor company presidency
looks to be the opening Farley has
been looking for.
Patronage Dispenser.
The President has retained Farley
in his two posts, Postmaster General
and chairman of the Democratic
Committee, because he wanted him
on the job and because Farley was
able to give a good deal more of his
time running things political while
making his headquarters in Wash
ington. The Office of Postmaster Gen.
eral has been considered political in
almost every administration, because
Of the large amount Of patronage that
comes under the Post Office Depart
rlent itself. But Jim" Farley, as
chairman of the National Committee.
has been the chief patronage dis
penser for the entire administration.
II he leaves Washington to becor.e
head of motor company, he may still
remain national chairman, but how
much time will he have 10 give to
patronage matters. and how much
would he be permitted to do along
those lines?
II Farley steps out of the cabinet,
the President is considered likely to
pick new political lieutenant to in
stall as Postmaster General, not to
supplant Farley as national chairman.
but to take over some of the patronage
matters with which the White House
must deal day in. and day out. He
might turn to the Democratic leader
Of the Bronx, Edward j. Flynn, who
has been an ardent Roosevelt sup
porter in New York ever since the
President was Governor of the Empire
State. Flynn, as leader of the pop
ulous borough of the Bronx. has
backed Roosevelt for years in a war
against Tammany.. And it was Flynn
and other Roosevelt Democratic lead
ers who recently carried the Demo-
cratic primary for Mahoney for Mayor
OF New York against the anti-Roose-
welt Senator Copeland, backed by
Tammany.
Walker Again Mentioned.
Whenever it has been reported
that Farley was about to leave the
cabinet Frank c. Walker, an early
adviser Of the President, has been
mentioned as his probable successor.
Again his name is being mentioned.
Walker has held several posts in the
administration, general handy man.
There is always the possibility that
the President might decide to stick
to the Post ONCE Department and pro-
mote the First Assistant Postmaster
General, William w. Howes of South
Dakota and member of the Demo-
cratic National Committee. Howes
has been committeeman for a dozen
years. He came to Washington first
to serve as Second Assistant Post
master General when Senator O'Ma-
honey of Wyoming was still First As
sistant. When O'Mahoney stepped
out to enter the Senate Howes was
made First Assistant Last year when
Farley was ION furlough" from the
Post ONCE Department to run the
campaign for reelection of President
Roosevelt Howes ran the Post ONCE
Department as acting head
Farley, in addition to being Post
master General and chairman of the
Democratic National Committee, also
Is chairman of the New York State