The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-06

ClOnal COmmlCCee.
 l. That there is just as sharp cleavage between liberals and conservatives in the COP as there is among the Democrats.
 2. That there is strong rank and-file sentiment that Herbert Hoover and National Chairman John Hamilton must be eliminated from leadership if the party is to win in 1940.
 3. That the congressional lead- CTS, aligned with the liberals, are determined to shape their own policy in legislation and to brook no interference from the Hoover Hamilton group.
 The struggle for control between the Old Guard and Young Guard and the undercurrent of hostility toward Hoover and Hamilton are part of the same fight. There are: however, veteran leaders who op- pose the young militants but at the same time agree with them U1tdU 1lO0tCI dAlu be retired to the background.
 Privately, these Old Guarders said that the National Chairman and former President had become unpopular symbols in the public mind, that the party could not af- ford to go into the presidential campaign encumbered with them. Tough Customer
 The consensus among all groups was that no serious diff culty would be encountered in shelving Hamilton. He has never been really popular, and now estranged from Landon, the man who named him, he will be re- placed sooner or later. But .squelching Hoover is a different matter.
 The ex-President does not hold a party office, and it is difficult to shoot at an intangible target. Also, Hoover has powerful busi- ness and political allies, is thus in a position indirectly to make his influence felt in the councils of the party even though he doesn't show his hand.
 This was demonstrated by the selection of ex-SenatOr Dan Hastings of Delaware to the executive committee over Ken- meth Simpson, progressive cam paign manager of New York's Tom Dewey. The maneuver was put over entirely by Hoover, although he did not appear openly at any time in the bit- ter undercOyer fight.
 Hoover had previously tried to stop Simpsons election as Ma tional Committeeman by the New York state committee. Rank and-file hostility to Hoover made itself felt and Simpson won, but in the National Committee, Hoov- CT had no such trouble with the older party leaders.
 This struggle of the COP rank and-file with its leaders will be intensified from now on. Its out come may determine the fate of the party's drive to return to na- ational control in 1940.
 Congressional
 Independents
 The Republican leaders in Con- gress, fresh from the hustings, want no part of the Hoover Ham ilten group, and have shown they feel very strongly about it.
 They are going to form their own policies ad strategy in deal- ing with the New Deal and legis- lative problems. Their independ- ence was bluntly asserted when a Hoover leader in the National Committee proposed that a Re- publican program be formulated for the coming session of Con- gress.
 "There will be nothing like that" he was informed, "our party is not in control and the
 country would resent our at- tempting to assume such a role. Furthermore, that would be playing into the hands of the New Dealers, for it would give them the chance to raise the partisan cry and rally the con- servative Democrats who other
 wise will play ball with us."
 NOn-PaFtiSan
 A. P. and L. M. Giannini, lead- ing California bankers, are girding themselves with both New Deal and COP legal talent for their tussle next month with the Securi- and Exchange commission.
 In addition to ex-Senator Will liam Gibbs McAdoo, the Gianninis have employed former Senator Daniel Hastings of Delaware, Old Guard Republican recently elect ed to the party's executive com mittee over Kenneth Simpson.