Evening star., 1944-01-21
President 10 Remain
|AIoof From Talks
|0f Party Leaders

President Roosevelt will receive
members of the Democratic Ma
tional Committee and their wives
at the White House at $50 pm.
today, but otherwise he will take
no part in the party's meeting
here, Stephen T. Early. presiden-
tial secretary, said today.
Mr.. Early told reporters Mr..
Roosevelt would not send a message
to the Democratic parley, nor would
he address the Jackson Day dinner
tomorrow night as he did last year.
The dinner will be held at the May
flower Hotel.
Frank c. Walker, chairman of the
committee, called at the White
White House at noon, and Mr.. Early
believed the chairman wanted to
discuss the meeting and probably
his recent trip to Chicago.
The President, Mr.. Walker ex-
planned earlier, is nine days be-
hind on his appointments because of
a bout with the flu. And, Mr.. Walker
added, there is a war on-his state
ment implying that situation left
little time for politics now.
Demands Grow Louder.
In spite of this seeming cold
shoulder, the chorus of fourth-term
demands grew louder today as ad-
ditional delegates arrived for tomor-
rows session to select Robert E.
Hannegan as national chairman to
succeed Mr.. Walker and to fix
Chicago as the site for the party's
convention. The date OF the con-
vention may be left to the new
chairman, though July "a is con-
sidered a likely starting time.
The fourth-term boom, started by
former Gov. Culbert l.. Olson of
California, found recruits today in
Gov. Robert S. Kerr of Oklahoma, a
national committeeman; Thomas R..
King, Wisconsins National Com
mittee member; Elmer F.. Kelm
Minnesota State chairman, and Jake
More. Iowa State chairman.
Their theme was that their State
delegations would support Mr..
Roosevelt, that with the President
at the head of the ticket the Demo-
Gratis would win. and that without
him they are sunk.
Disunity Discounted.
Gov. Kerr. who halls from what
mas come to be regarded as a doubt
ful State since Republican won
the Senate race there in 1912, dis
counted reports of disunity within
the party.
Those have emanated from the
action OF James c. Quigley, Ne
braska committeeman, in calling a
meeting today of the Midwestern
Democratic conference. That group,
which Mr.. Quigley heads, is COM
posed Of the committee members
and State chairmen of Is Mid
western States.
Mr.. Quigley, personally exercised
over patronage matters, told a re-
porter that any grievances that
might develop probably would be
carried directly to the White House.
rather than to the National Com
mittee.
Members OF the Midwest confer
ence, are complaining principally
about administration of the farm
program.
Asks Custer Of Wickard.
Demanding the outing OF Secre-
tary Of Agriculture Wickard and
A. G. Black, head OF the Farm Cred
it Administration, Mr.. Quigley said,
It's got to the point now where
the Farmers Union is running the
Department of Agriculture.
He complained particularly
against administration appoint
ments Of Republicans to Govern
ment posts.
Mr.. Quigley said the Democrats
need to win back the confidence
of the farmers" adding:
We have lost the major part
Of the farm vote without any justi-
fable reason. 1t has not been be-
cause OF policies, but because Of
poor administration. We feel the
administration has rendered in
valuable service to the farmers and
have every right to be entitled to
the farm vote. The administration
saved agriculture; there's no ques-
ton about that"
Open to Complaints.
Mr.. More, who is secretary of the
conference. said the group would
open its session to any complaints
that Midwestern State members
had, but he predicted the President.
who lost Iowa to Wendell L. Willkie
in 1910. would carry it this year.
Iowa Democrats, he said want Vice
President Wallace renominated.
National Committeeman Frank M.
McHale of Indiana, a member of the