Evening star., 1943-01-22
Democratic Senators
Predict Flynn Will
Be Confirmed 10 Posi-
Expect Vote Will Follow
Porty Lines; Witnesses
Still to Be Heard
BY GOULD LINCOLN

confirmation of the nomina-
ton OF Edward J, Flynn former
chairman of the Democratic
National Committee, as United
states Minister to Australia to-
day was predicted by leading
Democratic Senators. They said
That unless material facts were
developed against Mr.. Flynn by
witnesses still to be heard by the
Foreign Relations Committee
they believed few Democrats
would vote against confirmation.
Mr.. Flynn, appearing before the
committee Wednesday in his own
behalf, made a good impression not
only on the democratic members of
the committee but also on other
Senators who attended the hearing
Indeed, two Senators who had been
inclined to oppose confirmation now
say they will, in all probability,
vote for Mr. Flynn.
Republicans appear to be def
niteiy aligned against Mr.. Flynns
confirmation. If any of them in
tends to vote for confrma ton none
has said so as vet. The contest,
therefore. is likely to be decided
on party lines. There are 81 Demo-
cratic and 38 Republican Senators,
and one Progressive, Senator La
Toilette Of Wisconsin.
Held Political Mistake.
1t is no secret Ahat a number of
the Senate Democrats regret the
nomination, considering it a polit-
ical mistake. Nevertheless they
agree with the argument that the
President who is charged with
handling foreign relations always
has been accorded the right to Sc
lect his own assistants in this field,
The first hurdle Mr.. Flynn has to
Jump is action by the Foreign Re-
lations Committee The Demo-
Gratis have IS members, the Repub-
hcans seven, and there is one pro-
gressive. The vote in the commit
tee, it is now confidently predicted,
will recommend confirmation.
The fact that Mr.. Flynn as yet
has not resigned definitely his mem
bership in the national committee
although he has Quit ass its chair
man AND has said he has "tenta-
lively resigned" as a member from
New York still makes two Demo-
cratic votes mcertain-thOse of
Senator Clark of Missouri and Sena-
tor Hatch of New Mexico. Unless
Mr.. Flynn completely servers all ties
with the national committee, these
two votes will be cast against him,
1t was said today.
Sanator Hatch is author of the
Hatch Pure Politics Act. He con-
siders that the spirit OF the act, if |
not the letter, will be violated if Mr. !
Flynn remains member of the ma
tional committee while serving in !
diplomatic post. On the other hand, !
II Mr.. Flynn withdraws from the |
committee, both are expected to sup
port his confirmation. Senator Clark /
is q member of the Foreign Rela- |
tiors Committee.
S-AhN btk 6tT Sotohukt
II Mr.. Flynn resigns his member
ship In the national committee he
will have severed all his official po-
litical ties, for he has given up the
national Craftsmanship and has
given up his party leadership in the I
Bronx in New York City. The milk
in the coconut, however, lies in the |
fact that if he retires from the ma
tional committee his successor will /
be named by the new York State |
Democratic Committee of which !
James A. Farley, former Postmaster |
General and former national chair
man is head.
BecaueS Mr.. Farley is at outs with |
the administration, his selection to
be national committeeman from
New York would be disquieting, to
say the least, to New Dealers-and
so would the selection of any one
put forward by Mr.. Farley.
So far as the Republicans are con-
cerned, they intend to beat Mr.
Flynn If they can-with Democratic
aid. If they cannot, they will be
content to let the issue 60 into the
next national political campaign,
particularly if the President is to
pe a candidate 10 succeed himself
They argue that it is mistake to
send Mr.. Flynn, who has no expert
ence in the diplomatic field to
vitality important post during the
war. They maintain, too, that Mr..
Flynn's past record as political
boss is unsavory. In particular they
have accused him Of having made
use of New York City owned paving
blocks and city labor to improve
the courtyard of a country home,
and Of having made payment only
when the matter was becoming pub
lie knowledge.