Evening star., 1946-04-03
COP Regulars Hoping
Tired Public Will Vote
Them In, Truman Says
BY the Assooioted Pres.

President Truman referred re-
porters to a Baltimore Sun article
today when asked to comment on
election of Representative Carroll
Reece of Tennessee as Republican
national chairman.
NeWsmen at first assumed he
meant an editorial titled Just Some
More OF the Same Old Thing, which
criticized Mr.. Reece's House record
on international affairs. But Press
Secretary Charles G, Ross later said
the President had another article
in mind
What Mr. Truman was referring
to. Mr. Ross said, was an article by
John w. Owens which appeared on
the Baltimore Suns editorial page
today under the heading Uphill
Fight for the Advance Guard"
Mr.. Owens also cited Mr.. Reece's
congressional record and said:
The Republican regulars are
standing pat with the standpatters
Again. they wait for WEAKNESS to
elect them"
DiSclaim ISOlatiOniSm.
Mr.. Reece told reporters at a news
conference yesterday that he did
not classify himself either as an
extreme internationalist or extreme
lsolationist but as an American, ad-
vocating international affairs which
are in the American interest
Mr.. Truman's brief observation
was that the Baltimore Sun article
should be read by those wanting
comment.
A reporter referred to the Pres
ident's conference yesterday with
Edward V. Loughlin. leader of New
York's Tammany Hall. He asked
Mr.. Truman whether the possibility
of Senator Mead, Democrat. of New
York, running for Governor, was
discussed. The President replied that
the discussion had to do with Just
about everything connected with
New York politics.
AS for his own part in it. Mr..
Truman added, he just listened with
lot of interest.
| Meanwhile, dissident Southern
Democrats called a meeting today
which one of them said may be
showdown on the whole issue of
who is running the party
They protested yesterday to DEM
ocratic National Chairman Hanne-
gan for statement that appeared
in the Democratic Digest. a party
publication, saying that supporters
of the Case strike-control bill voted
against the American people"
| Mr.. Hannegan, who is in Phoenix.
Ariz,, telegraphed Representative
GoSSett, Democrat, of Texas. one of
the organizers of the group, that
the Digest statement was written by
"a former employe who is no longer
with the Democratic committee and
was placed in the publica ton mad
vertently and without approval"
Not Committee Attitude.
Il wish to assure you Mr.. Han
negan said, that it does not repre-
sent the attitude of the committee
and of any member of its staff and
shall be grateful to you if you will
convey this thought to all your COL
leagues in Congress who have ex-
pressed interest in the matter"
At his news conference yesterday
Mr.. Reece said that as the new
Republican chairman he is nobody's
man and that he expects to "elect
and not select party candidates.
He steered clear of commitments on
specific items of party policy, but
predicted Republican gains in Sen
ate and Housewife control of the
House, at least, switching to the
GOP-in the election this fall. He
said the Republican party could not
beat President Truman in 1948 with
| just any man.
Neither do I think it will nomi-
nate just any man." he said. II
believe it will select a man who is
able and has the confidence of the
American people"
Mr.. Reece had not previously seen
a statement by Senator Morse, Re-