Evening star., 1947-11-29
The Political Mill
Reece Unlikely to Heed
Senator Aiken's Advice

s~SSS a/ ~
Senator Aiken's Advice
G. o. P. Sees Vermonter as Maverick
Rejoicing in Liberal Title
By Gould Lincoln
Republican National Chairman Carroll Reece
Is not going to resign, Notwithstanding the
gratuitous advice given him by Senator Aiken
of Vermont Nor is it likely that Mr.. Reece
will be making any public reply to the Vermont
Senator. Mr.. Aiken is regarded by Republican
leaders in Congress as maverick, training most
of the time with two or three other Senators
who carry the Republican label. They are as
likely as not, however, to be found voting
against the Republican majority and with the
Democrats. They rejoice in the liberal" title
given them
Responsible Republican leaders in the Senate
and House, instead of being critical of Chair
man Reece, say they consider the national
chairman has done effective work. They call
attention to the fact that he headed the party's
national committee when the Republicans were
winning their first great victory in years-the
election of Republican Congress last year.
Mr.. Reece has been conducting slam bang
campaign against the Truman administration.
on the President or the Democrats who support
him. He has charged the President with poll
tical motives. His most recent criticism was
directed toward President Trumans price and
imitation program, which the President coupled
with his plea for foreign aid. Chairman Reece
insisted Mr.. Truman was playing politics with
human misery" Whatever Mr.. Aiken may
think about this matter, Republicans in Con-
gress generally agree with what Mr. Reece said
Also they liked his comment that the Truman
proposal to revive rationing and price control
and to control wages when necessary would
have the effect of putting "a cop. in every
kitchen"
Hit Me Too Attitude.
The Republicans take the view that it's the
job of the party national chairman to get tough
with the Truman administration. They do not
care for the appeasement or me too atti-
tude of some of the so-called liberals. The re-
ported revolt against Mr.. Reece, therefore,
among the congressional Republicans is mere
puff rather than strong, or even little, wind.
Mr.. Reece resigned from the House-he had
been a Representative from Tennessee for "a
years-to take the job of running the Republic
can national organization.
One Republican leader on Capitol Hill, COM
mentng on the Aiken attack on Mr.. Reece,
make choice" He mentioned the fact that
Mr.. Aiken had voted against the Republican,
sponsored "portal-to- portal" pay bill, and had
been found off the reservation on a number
of other occasions When he had lined up
with the Republican majority he had done so
with reluctance"
The Republicans in Congress do not want
to see their national chairman placed under
wraps, when it comes to ladling it out to the
Democrats. They do not expect him to an
nounce legislative policies, which is particu-
larly in their realm. Nor has Mr.. Reece sought
to announce policies. 1t Is the purpose Of the
national chairman to make his research organ
ization available to Republican members OF
the House and Senate, however. That he has
done. Before Mr.. Reece became national chair
man, former Senator Danaher of Connecticut
was the liaison officer between the national
committee by which he was employed, and
the Republican members of Congress MIR.
Danaher resigned to resume the private prac-
tice of law. Mr.. Reece, who had served so long
in Congress himself, has taken over the work
largely of keeping contact with the men on
the hill"
Plays No Favorites
Whether right or wrong, it has been the
practice of both Republican and Democratic
Parties to give the presidential nominee the
right to select the national chairman who runs
his campaign for election. So it may happen
next year that the Republican nominee for
President will ditch Mr. Reece and put in as
chairman man of his own choosing. 1t seems
foolish to remove the man who has built up
the party organization, just as it is going into
battle. Possibly the nominee next year may
decide to retain Recess services. Efforts have
been made to pin a Taft-for-President label
on him. In fairness to Mr. Reece. it must be
said that he has played no favorites in the
administration of party affairs
Mr.. Truman, in the opinion of the Republic
cans. has gone all the way politically in recent
weeks. They are convinced, however, that
eventually he will have to bear the RESPONSE
bility for high prices; that the people are
recognizing that he gave prices boost when
he declared last year for material wage in
creases, and that it is the huge foreign aid
program Of his Administration that is doing
more than anything else to keep prices high.
They are convinced, too, that 1t was politics
which led Mr. Truman to commute the SEN
tence of Mayor Jim Curley of Boston, whose
Jail term had another month to run before he
was eligible for parole; that he had been told he
had no chance in Massachusetts next year if
he did not release Curley
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