Evening star., 1940-01-10
Republicans 10 Meet
February Is 10 Fix
Convention Date
Notionol Committee
To Gother Here II Doys
After Democrats Decide
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.


After Democrats Decide
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.
john Hamilton. chairman Of the
Republican National Committee, to-
day announced that the committee
had been called to meet here Feb
ruary 16 at the Willard Hotel. The
purpose OF the meeting Is to fix the
time and place for the Republican
National Convention which is to
nominate presidential and vice pres
idential candidates and write the
party platform.
This puts the meeting of the G. o.
p. committee II days after the
scheduled meeting here of the DEM
ocratic National Committee, called
by Chairman James A. Farley for
February S, to pick the time and
place for the Democratic conven-
ton.
The Republicans will at least
have the advantage Of knowing the
time of the Democratic convention
when they get together here to ix
the date Of their own. They have
reachd no decision as to whether
they will postpone the Republican
convention until after that Of the
Democrats. Chairman Hamilton
has said In the past he believed the
Republican party was entitled-as
the party now out Of power-to know
what the Democrats do in the way
Of a presidential candidate and
platform before the Republican
convention acts.
Disagreement ON Strategy.
Some of the members of the ma
tional committee take the same
view. while others insist that the
Republicans should ignore the DEM
ocrats and 60 right ahead with their
national convention early in June, as
they have done in the past, leaving
the Democrats to meet after the
Republicans-as they have done for
years.
1t Is obvious, however, that If the
Democrats are to nominate President
Roosevelt for a third term. the Re-
publicans would be in better posi-
ton to deal with that issue after the
accomplished fact than before.
With the Republican committee
meeting set for February 16, 1t is still
possible for 1t to flx the date Of the
national convention as early as June
Is, for example-the convention call
must go out at least four months In
advance OF the convention meeting.
II the Democrats should hold their
convention around June 20 or early
in July. then the Republicans may
we'll postpone their convention until
a later date However, II Mr.. Farley
and his committee put the Demo-
cratic national meeting of until Au-
gust. the Republicans are not likely
to wait on the Democrats.
The raising of the necessary funds
to wage the national campaign is the
crux of the matter-and 1t cannot be
done in a hurry. Usually the con-
tributors want to know who Is to be
the party candidate and what he
stands for before they put up the
cash. This matter may govern the
selection Of the G. o. p. convention
date in the end.
One plan of dealing with this
matter has been advanced-the set
up of . strong organization in May
and June to raise the funds. BY
that time, it was said. the leading
contender for the presidential NOM
ination will be known, and also the
probable runnerup. They could be
consulted in regard to the forma-
ton of the organization.
Robert H. jackson. newly ap-
pointed by President Roosevelt to be
Attorney General, speaking At 4
Jackson Day dinner in Cleveland,
Ohio, Monday night. charged the
Republicans with lack of courage
and leadership because they wanted
to postpone their national conven-
ton until after that Of the Demo-
Gratis.
"Whatever of leadership the Re-
publican party had has passed." he
said, "and today 1t admits 1t must
wait to see what we do 50 1t may
know what to be against. It's policy
is to wait and say mo- whenever We
say yes"
Brings G. o. p. Replies.
Republican spokesmen, replying to
Mr.. Jackson today, pointed out that
for years the Democrats have watt
ed to see what the Republicans
were going to do; before they held
their own national conventions.
Furthermore, they pointed to the
fact that, in his same jackson Day
dinner speech, Mr.. Jackson had
strongly urged that President Roose-
welt not disclose to the public
whether he is to be q candidate for
denomination or not. The Repub-
licans said this was not in line with
Mr.. Jackson's demand for coura-
geous action on the part Of the q.
o. p. Mr.. Jackson said In his ad-
dress: "Why not let Mr.. Roosevelt
know the other fellows plans before
he decides, instead of letting the
other fellows know his plans 50 he
can decide?" Surely, the Republic
ans said, this is New Deal consist
ency.
The Republican committee has
had tentative offers for holding the
G. o. P. convention in Philadelphia,
Atlantic City, Baltimore, Detroit,
Chicago. Minneapolis and San Fran
cisco. There seems to be consid-
erable sentiment for assigning the
convention to Chicago. The COM
mittee will wait to see, however,
what the actual money bids are
from the various cities. Now that
the national committee has raised
enough to wipe out the debt coming
over from the 1896 campaign, the
committee Is perhaps freer in making
| its choice of q convention city. and