Evening star., 1942-02-15
Democrats Will Keep
Control Of Congress-,
Flynn Predicts
Both Parties Have Some
Objeetives in Campaign,
Committee Head Says
BY GOULD LINCOLN.

BY GOULD LINCOLN.
Chairman Edward j. Flynn OF the
Democratic National Committee,
after reading the speeches OF top
flight Republican orators at Lincoln
Day dinners last week. sees little
difference between the G. o. P. po-
sition and his own announced views
on the coming congressional cam
paign.
"The Republicans have shown
clearly that they are intent upon
electing Republicans to Congress
next November, just as I am intent
upon electing Democrats" Mr.. Flynn
said yesterday.
Mr.. Flynn was criticized by Re-
publicans because he had called for
the election of a House that was
not hostile to the President-saying
that the election Of House opposed
to the Chief Executive would be as
disastrous as a major military de-
feat. Coupled with the rest OF Mr..
Flynn's address, the Republicans
took this to mean demand for the
election of a Democratic Congress.
Retention Of Control Predicted.
Mr. Flynn makes no bones about
1t. He is going to bring about the
election of as many Democrats as
he can next fall-and he believes
his party will retain control Of the
new Congress which meets next
January 3.
President Roosevelt. questioned
about the Flynn statement, at
recent press conference, said the
easiest way to put it was to say
members Of Congress should be
elected who had supported the
Government and would support 1t
irrespective Of party" This. in turn,
was interpreted as meaning that
the President would look with favor
on those who had supported his
program Of national defense and
his foreign policy, whether Republi-
cans or Democrats.
Mr.. Flynn said he did not see
much difference between what the
President had said and what he
himself had declared in his radio
speech. The President, he pointed
out, wants a Congress that will
support him, and has supporter
him. Mr.. Flynn had urged the same
thing. The irrespective of party"
part of the Presidents statement,
however, did not register quite so
well with the Democratic chairman.
It was his duty, as national chair
man, to seek election Of Democrats.
Kelland Quoted.
@You won't find Joe Martin (the
Republican national chairman) ad-
vocating the election Of any Demo-
crats,' Mr.. Flynn commented. Nor
have any Of the other Republican
speakers at these Lincoln Day din
ners advocated the election Of DEM
ocratS."
He said that Clarence Budding
ton Kelland, G. o. P. publicity dl-
rector, speaking in Indianapolis,
had made it definitely clear that
politics was not "out," war or no
war. Mr.. Kelland in the course OF
that address said: Politics is good
in time of peace; in time of war it
is Indispensable
Mr.. Flynn said that he is also a
strong believer in the two-party sys-
tenn.
The Democratic national chair
man said the plans for the Demo-
cratic dinners which will be held
Monday, February %, to celebrate
Washington's Birthday, were going
forward very we'll. President Roose-
welt is to deliver an address to the
country that night over the radio.
He will be heard at all the Demo-
cratic dinners although he will not
attend the dinner here as he has in
the past but will speak from the
White House. His address. 1t is said,
will deal only with the state of the
Nation and the war effOrt-omlt-
ting any partisan political discus
sion.
Flynn to Attend Dinner Here.
Mr.. Flynn will attend the dinner
in Washington, which will be
aQOTeSS6u ny OclllOSl dllC iSooCA o.
Chairman Connally of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee, is to
be the principal speaker at the
Democratic dinner in New York.
These Democratic dinners are
expected to be source of consid-
cradle revenue to the party-as were
the Jefferson Day dinners given IN
past years. Here in Washington
guests are expected to contribute
500 a plate. In other cities the
ante is lower Mr.. Flynn explained
that the national committee, which
has taken the lead in organizing
these dinners, needs 100000 to pay
the deficit from the last campaign
The Republicans made no attempt
to raise funds at their Lincoln Day
dinners-charging the guests only
enough to pay expenses. AS a mat
ter of fact, the Republicans say they
are not planning for big expendi-
lures in the coming campaign. One
of their most important leaders said
that If there was a swing in the
country against the New Dealers
as he believed there was-Republi-
cans would win in the elections
whether much or little money was
expended.