Evening star., 1947-10-28
Plan
Delegate Bonus
For Solid South
States Won in 1916
To Get a Extra Eoch:
l,206 TotuI Is Seen
By Gould Lincoln

The Democratic National Com
mittee, at its sessions opening
here tomorrow, is expected to
fix the number of delegates for
the party's national convention
next year at 1906, granting a
bonus of four delegates to each
State which went Democratic in
the 1946 elections.
This virtually means a bonus for
the States of the solid South" The
delegate strength of the 1914 con-
vention was 1,176.
Democrats of the South have felt,
ever since the abolishment of the
| two-thirds rule for nominating can
didates for President and Vice Pres
ldent, that they have had the short
end of the stick. particularly in
view of the fact that they have been
the backbone of the party in good
season and bad.
The ALLEGATION of delegate strength
to the various States, the District
of Columbia and the territories has
been worked out tentatively and
must be approved by the committee
itself.
Hannegan Resignation First Topic.
First on the agenda of the COM
mittee when it assembled at II
am. in the Mayflower Hotel will
be the submission of the resigna-
tion of National Chairman Robert
E. Hannegan who has held this
office since early in 1914.
! Mr. Hannegan, who will retain
the cabinet post as Postmaster
General, has recommended the
election of Senator McGrath of
Rhode Island as national chairman,
with the approval of President
Truman. McGrath's election is
regarded as in the bag.
AS soon as the new chairman has
been chosen, he will take over the
meeting The selection of a site
and date for the 1949 national con-
vention, and the fixing of the num-
Der of delegates constitute the re-
manning important business of the
committee. The Republican Ma
tional Convention will take place
the week of June 81. The practice
of the Democrats has been to hold
their convention after that of the
Republicans, so the Democratic date
will be the last of June or the first
/ part of July in all probability.
Delegation Coming Here.
Philadelphia's bid for the Demo-
cratic convention will be presented
by a delegation of 100 Philadel-
ohians, headed by Republican Mayor
Bernard Samuel. The Republican
National Convention already is
slated for the City of Brotherly
Love. The Philadelphians are con-
verging on Washington today. bring
ing with them a certified check for
100000 to present to the commit
tee, and guarantee of $4,000 more
! for entertainment.
! Meanwhile, Senator McGrath sug-
gested that the cost of living could
be removed from next years list of
campaign issues, if both parties got
together on a solution this winter.
/ Just back from a European in
spection trip, the young New Eng
lander unhesitatingly called emer-
gency aid for the democracies Of
Western Europe the No. problem
for the special session.
He told a press conference late
yesterday the domestic price situa-
ton certainly will be a dominant
issue in the campaign tin 1948l
unless something is done before then
to stabilize prices"
! May Promote Solution.
The man who has been chosen
by administration leaders to succeed
Postmaster General Hannegsn at
the helm of the Democratic organi-
zation, continued:
If both parties desire to give aid
to Europe and both parties wish to
remove prices as dominant issue in
the campaign. there may be
! desire to get together on a solution"
He said he believes the Repubi;-
cans have more to fear from a
price spiral than we have, because
they are the ones who said taking
off restrictions would work.
In a further hint at a possible BIZ
partisan approach to imitation as
we'll as foreign aid, he added such
an approach would not give Demo-
Gratis an excuse to block any reason-
able solution offered by the other
side.
Observers on Capitol Hill were not
too optimistic, however. over the
possibility of the two parties seeing
eye to eye on the question of how to
deal with the price issue.
Crawford Urges Probe.
While Senator McGrath was hold
ing his press conference, Represen-
tative Crawford. Republican, Of
Michigan was addressing a letter to
all members of Congress, asking
their support for a resolution he will
offer in the House next month 10
investigate the inf1ationary policies
Of the Truman administration.
! The Michigan Republican said he
(see DEMOCRATS, Page A-5.J
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