Evening star., 1944-01-22
Walker Resiqns
Post, Hannegan
Succeeds Him.
Tax Chief Elected
To Head Democratic
National Committee
BY GOULD LINCOLN.


Democratic National Committee
and was Immediately succeeded
by Robert E. Hannegan, who then
resigned as internal revenue
commissioner.
Mr.. Hennegan was placed in
by National Committee
man James P. Aylward of Missouri.
No other nominations were made,
and Mr.. Hannegan was unanimously
elected.
The resignation of Mr.. Walker and
the election of Mr.. Hannegan had
been planned before the national
committees meeting at the May
flower Hotel.
President Roosevelt accepted Mr..
Hannegan's resignation as revenue
commissioner, effective today.
Graves Acting Commissioner.
Harold N. Graves, assistant in.
ternal revenue commissioner, was
designated by Secretary of the
treasury Morgenthau to be acting
commissioner.
In Mr.. Hannegan's letter Of resie.
nation, made public at the White
House, he said he had had "a call
to other work to which 1 believe
ought to respond"
Mr.. Roosevelt, in replying, told the
new chairman that you have my
continuing good wishes and con-
fidence"
The committee chose the 40-year.
old st. Louisian to head a campaign
drive in which most Of the Demo-
cratic faithful at the meeting believe
will find President Roosevelt run
ming for fourth term.
Aylward Praises Hannegan.
Mr.. Aylward said Mr.. Hannegan
was eminently qualified to lead the
party to "a grand and glorious
victory in the election of Franklin
Delano Roosevelt to a fourth term"
Mr.. Aylward's reference to
fourth term provoked spirited ap-
plause by the committeeman, called
to fix the date and place of this
years national convention.
Mr.. Hannegan, in accepting the
Craftsmanship, told the COMMITTEES
he would expect every energy" to
bring about victory.
Il have no new ideas or new
plans to present" Mr. Hannegan
said. Il am a plain, 100 per cent
organization Democrat I am not
angry at any Democrat"
The chairman said he had been
pictured in recent newspaper
article as another Jim Farley.
He declared he was proud to have
worked in the past with MIR. Far
ley, adding, Il do not think we will
ever have another chairman with
his capabilities.
Will Consult Predecessors.
Mr. Hannegan said he intended
to consult with Mr.. Walker and
Edward j. Flynn. former committee
chairmen, and devote all his time
to building up the organization.
Il am confident that if we have
the organization, we will have the
teamwork, and can look forward
to a great victory in November" Mr..
Hannegan said.
Declaring he was used to ths
bush league" the chairman ad-
mitted he was frightened" now
that he is in the big league"
Mr.. Hannegan was Democratic
city chairman of St. Louis for al
most decade. He is a new figure
in the national political field.
Letter of Resignation.
In his letter of resignation as
Internal Revenue Commissioner, Mr..
Hannegan said:
Dear Mr. President:
When you appointed me COM
missioner of internal revenue last
October, I took over the work Of
that Office with deep appreciation
of the honor you had conferred on
me and high sense of the respon-
sibility of the task you had given
me. 1t was my ambition to perform
the duties of the Office in a way to
merit your continued confidence and
approval, and I had no thought of
relinquishing the position so long as
I was able to serve your administra-
ton effectively.
Now, however, I have had a call
to other work to which I believe
ought to respond. The Democratic
National Committee today has
chosen me as its chairman.
i therefore tender my resignation
as commissioner of internal revenue
and respectively ask that it be made
effective as of the close of business
on this day.
Permits me to express my deep
and lasting gratitude for the privi-
lege OF serving your administration
both as collector of internal revenue
at st. Louis and for these last few
months as commissioner"
The President answered:
my Dear Bob:
Complying with your request, T
accept your resignation as commits
sioner of internal revenue, effective
as Of the close of business today.
Il have been impressed by the
vigorous and competent way in
which you undertook the duties of
commissioners at a very difficult
time, and I know that If you had
continued in the Office you would
have made an outstanding record.
You have my continuing good
wishes and confidence"
All was harmony ,at the meet
ing despite talk of revolt yesterday
against the selection of Mr.. Hanne-
gan, a newcomer to the national
field OF politics. If any of the com.
mitteemen had such thing seri-
Continued on Page A-2, Column 81
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