Evening star., 1940-04-18
6. 0. P. Delegation
From D.. {. Expected
To Be Uninstructed
Democratic Group Will
Back Roosevelt If He
Runs, McConihe Thinks
BY ]. A. OLEARY.

~ ~ As " ALhnxs
The District delegation to the Re-
publican National Convention, to be
elected May 10, probably will go to
Philadelphia uninistructed on the
question of who should be the G. O.
P. presidential nominee, local party
leaders believe.
At the same time at least one
prominent local Democrat, National
Committeeman Malcolm S. Nc
Conihe, predicted the District
delegation to the Democratic
convention at Chicago will be for
President Roosevelt if he runs.
Local Democrats, however, have
made no plans yet for primary
to select their delegates, but a meet
Ing of the State Central Committee
probably will be called soon. The
Democrats have more time to make
arrangements this year, since their
national convention does not as
semble until July Is, whereas the
Republicans will gather June "a.
Colladay Seeks to Keep Post.
Edward F.. Colladay, Republican
national committeeman for the
District, who will be a candidate
to continue in that Office for the
next four years, JOINED in the be-
lief that the local delegation will
not be instructed for any particular
Republican presidential aspirant.
II this course is decided on by the
local convention on May 18, the
delegation would decide the ques-
tion by caucus at Philadelphia.
The District is allowed to send
three delegates and three alternates
to the Republican conclave, and
preliminary arrangements for their
election were announced yesterday
by the State Central Committee
chairman, James C. Wilkes.
Republican registration will start
tomorrow and continue through
April "a at State Central Committee
headquarters, 1881 G street NV.
The next step will be the election
OF one delegate from each of 43
local precincts to attend the State
convention. These 43 delegates will
convene for State organization
meeting May 16, at which 43 addi-
tlonal delegates at large will be
chosen. All of these delegates form
the convention which will meet two
days later to elect the three dele
gates and three alternates to the
national convention.
The State convention also will
nominate choice for national COM
mittman and national committee
woman. Mrs. Virginia White Speel,
present national committeewoman,
also is expected to be put forward
Tor another term in that position.
d. C. Democrats Have 6 Votes.
In the Democratic convention the
District is allowed votes. In 1896
and for number of years prior
thereto the District sent IL dele
gates to the convention, each cast
ing half vote. Whether that will
be done again this year awaits the
action of the Democratic State Gen.
trail Committee when 1t meets to
make plans.
The first step to be taken by the
local Democrats probably will be to
elect a chairman for the State Gen.
tral Committee, which has been va
cant since John B. Colpoys resigned
during the past year after many
years as local party leader. Mr..
Colpoys, who is United States mar
shal, withdrew from local party af-
fairs following passage of the Hatch
Act, which prohibited Federal en-
ployes from active participation in
politics.
Meanwhile the Senate subcommit-
tee considering the Capper bill to
provide by law for a general pri-
mary to elect all convention dele
gates is in recess today, subject to
the call of Chairman Austin.
Republican Chairman Wilkes said
yesterday the authority granted by
the State Central Committee to re-
arrange precinct boundaries was not
new or unusual 1t is customarily
given, he explained, to make possible
adjustments due to fluctuations in
population.
He emphasized. however, that the
authority was not conferred on him
alone, but on committee of four,
His statement followed testimony
yesterday by William H. Mondell. a
local Republican, who told the SEN
ate subcommittee he had been in
formed the authority to change pre-
clncts was delegated to the State
chairman.