Evening star., 1944-01-22
Continued From First Page. }

Inc members OF the national
committee came away from a two
hour reception in the state dining
room Of the White House yesterday
full Of enthusiasm for Mr.. Roosevelt.
The President and Mrs. Roosevelt
received them cordially.
The President chatted with each
member individually, but made no
speech to the committee as q whole.
Nor will he, 1t was said, either speak
to them at the jackson Day dinner
In the Mayflower tonight or send
them a message. Tea, coffee, sand
wiches and cakes and pleasant
dashes Of conversation were his only
concession to the principal political
gathering Of his party in a year.
Twelve Of the Midwest States were
represented at the meeting yesterday
which adopted the Roosevelt resolu-
ton, Wisconsin, North Dakota. South
Dakota, Wyoming. Colorado. Ne
braska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Mis-
souri,, Iowa, Minnesota and Indiana.
The representatives of Montana,
the other member of the conference
group, were not present.
Casey's Name Brought Up.
There had been reports that the
Midwest group might back Eugene
Casey Of Maryland, an executive as
sistant to the President. for the
committee Craftsmanship.
Two hours of discussion behind
closed doors resulted only in the ap-
pointment of a committee to repre-
sent the party leaders who are ex-
pected to call on Mr.. Hannegan to
urge either that Mr.. Casey be named
an executive assistant to Mr.. Hanne-
gan or that an Executive Committee
be appointed. Gov. Robert S. Kerr
of Oklahoma said any change in Mr..
Caseys status would be up to the
President, so far as he was con-
cerned.
Thomas r. King, Wisconsin ma
tional committeeman, who heads
this committee, said only that the
group probably would urge more fire.
quent meetings Of the National
Committee.
Sellout At s100 \ Plate.
At the dinner tonight, Speaker
Rayburn will make the principal
address. Other speakers will in
clude Vice President Wallace. Mrs.
Charles w. Tillett, head OF the
women's division OF the national
committee, and Quentin Reynolds,
a writer.
The dinner it is reported, is a
sellout at 500 a plate. The pro-
ceeds will go to swell the funds for
the coming campaign.
The meeting of the national COM
mittee was called to pick the city
in which the convention will be held
Chicago has already been deter
mined on, selection which the
committee will ratify. The date Of
the opening of the convention will
be left, it was said, to the national
chairman. If this is the case. it is
expected he will call the convention
to meet in the latter part Of July.
The Republican National Conven-
ton will be held also in Chicago,
opening June 26.
Coalition Endorsed.
Minnesotans, en- leaving the White
House reception, reported they had
received the Presidents blessing on
a proposed merger of the Farmer
Labor and Democratic parties in
their State, and Wisconsin members
said Mr.. Roosevelt told them he ia
vored a. similar coalition of Demo-
Gratis and Progressives there.
Elmer F. Kelm, Minnesota State
chairman, and Elmer Benson, for
mer Farmer-Labor Governor and
Senator from that State, called on
the President before the White
House reception and told him OF the
plans to unite the Democrats and
Farmer-Laborites. Mr.. Kelm later
told reporters the President gave the
step his blessing.
Postmaster General Walker, ten
dering his resignation to the COM
mittee, said:
my associations with the group
of patriotic men and women who
comprise the Democratic National
Committee have been so pleasant
that it is with genuine regret that
feel 1t is my duty to tender my
resignation as chairman.
'War has brought fresh problems
and a constantly growing volume to
the Post once Department. In
such days, the postal service re-
quires the full attention and energy
of the Postmaster General.
Let there be no misunderstand-
ing as to my attitude. am proud
Of the accomplishments of the
Democratic party. It was the party
which won my love and loyalty as
q youth. The years that have
passed, and the positions Of leader
ship with which the party f1onored
me, have served to intensity my re-
spect for the party's aims and the
party's accomplishments.
Looking back over the years since
March, 1888. during which the re-
sponsibility for government has been
entrusted to the Democratic admin
istration, we find a record Of mag
nificent service. More than once I
iisTe called that period the glorious
decc.,. I think that historians Of
the futurS. noting the advances made
by the eJhisc ~ humanity In those