Evening star., 1946-11-16
Democrat Leadership
Seen in ] otuI Collapse
Shrewd Manager Now Needed
For Party Success-In 1852
By Doris FIeeson

Dv DOytS rtEGS0W
The collapse Of Democratic leader
ship here Is more real than apparent.
There are no stimulating personals
ties to rally to the mo Honeymoon" cry
OF dauntless old Josephus Daniels. Mr..
Daniels, who had the immortal nerve
to dry up the Navy under woodrow
Wilson, emerged from the Presidents
study scofing at political lovefests be-
tween the two major parties. Each has
its own policies and should fight for
them, he said.
But no political direction can come
from the White House or cabinet at
present and no new faces are In pros
pect, there. A reshufiing Of the old
ones Is possible and most people expect
to see the President bring in his init
mate friend, Leslie Bifae, who Is about
to lose his job as secretary of the Senate.
The President apparently plans to ride
out the storm with the same crew.
The National Committee has dis
charged its strictly campaign staff and
retreated to Its usual wing in the May
flower Hotel. Nobody there knows ex-
actly whom they will be working for
soon.
Hannegan Drifting.
Postmaster General Hannegan Is
drifting but his departure lis assured.
Some think he has persuaded New York
State Chairman Paul Fitzpatrick to take
over. His assistant, Dick Macy, who had
the merit Of always being on the job,
announced months ago his intention to
retire and Is doing it. Publicity Director
Sam O'Neal will stay and Treasurer
George Kilian is waiting. There is fer
ment in the woman's division with top
level changes at the conversation stage.
In the Democratic left field, the PACs
have displayed division and weakness
born of labor's family troubles. This
will continue for some time. Ending
one duplication, National Citizens PAC
and the Arts-Sciences PAC, from which
Harold Ickes has resigned, will be
amalgamated. The future of CIO-PAC,
by far the largest and strongest group,
win be greatly affected by what happens
at the CIO convention next week when
President Philip Murray is due to
tangle with his Communist members.
A weakened CIO-PAC means the en-
terprise is on its way out.
Wallace Kissed on.
In any case, Henry Wallace, who
comes as near as any one to being a
spokesman for the point of view PAC
represents, has already kissed of l94s
in behalf of the progressives. Obviously,
he feels they can't make weight for O
time.
The situation is bad on the hill where
some Southern Democrats are already
threatening seizure of power that
would ALLEVIATE for years the alliances
on which MIR. Roosevelt built success.
The more responsible Senators Byrd
and George-are holding back, but Rep
resentative Gene Cox has threatened
to NOW down the present House leader,
Mccormack of Massachusetts, on the
ground that Dixie now rules the roost.
To offset this, Senator Lister Hill Of
Alabama, whip of the upper chamber,
is being urged to take a more active
role in party affairs and try to obtain
middle-road policy. Naturally, Sena-
tor Barkley win retain his leadership
and to his friends it is silver lining
to defeat that he win not have to work
SO hard. Paradoxically he may now get
more help in defeat; his Southern col
leagues left him to fight the New Deal
battles alone, but may rally to his aid
now that the party Is in danger.
What the Democrats need is shrewd
political manager who wants to be q
si1reess-iy, 1850