Evening star., 1947-09-27
Hannegan Quits;
McGrath 10 Get
Craftsmanship
Change to Be Made
At Meeting Oct. ~:
Sullivan Also Resigns

Robert E. Hannegan will resign
October 20 as chairman of the
Democratic National Committee
and be succeeded by Senator Nc
Grath of Rhode Island. ~
Mr.. Hannegan announced today
he Is resigning because of health
and that President Truman 'in-
dicated his approval" of Senator
McGrath for the job. Ratification
of the Presidents choice by the
national committee will be a for
mality. Mr.. Hannegan remains as
Postmaster General.
Senator McGrath told reporters
he will accept the Democratic chair
manship and expects to proceed on
the theory that my task will be to
re-elect President Truman" He
will remain in the Senate.
Took Post in 1914.
Mr.. Hannegan said he is giving
up the chairmanship he took over
in January, 1914, on the advice of
physicians who urged that he limit
his activities.
He called meeting of the Ma
tional Committee for October 20
and said his resignation will be ef-
fective as of that date at II am,
when the meeting starts.
Mr.. Hannegan said he had sug-
gested Senator McGrath's name to
President Truman as his successor
and the President had indicated his
approval.
simultaneously the chairman an.
nounced that Gael Sullivan, execu-
tive director and vice chairman Of
the committee, former Assistant
Postmaster General who has been
exercising full power in Mr.. Han
negan's absence, is resigning on the
same date, October 90.
Won't Accept Salary.
Senator McGrath said he will not
accept salary as party chairman.
At news conference he said he
considers the new Job a "tremen-
dous one with a lot of hard work
which I will be happy to do to the
best of my ability"
Senator McGrath said he had
urged Mr.. Sullivan to remain as
executive director and had asked
MIR. Hannegan to urge him to stay.
When he announced that he
would retain his Senate seat, Sem
ator McGrath was asked if the
presence of the party's national
chairman on the Senate floor might
conflict in any way with the duties
of Senator Barkley, Democratic
floor leader. He replied:
"On the Senate floor Senator
1 Barkley is my leader and there shall
be no conflict whatever"
T. Job to Organize Party.
Asked if he thought having
member of Congress as party chair
man would promote cooperation
between the national committee and
the Democratic contingent In Con-
gress, he said:
1T should contribute toward that
result. To what extent, only time
will tell. However, my job is to
organize the party, not the Con-
gress."
! There are two precedents in re-
cent years for selection of a ma.
tional chairman from Congress,
both on the Republican side. Dur4
ing the Hoover administration, for.
mer Senator Fess of Ohio, held the
post and in 1910 Speaker Martin of
Massachusetts, was COP national
chairman. Former Secretary of
State Cordell Hull served as Demo-
cratic chairman while q member of
the House in the early 20s.
Senator McGrath said he SUD.
ported President Truman for noni.
nation as Vice President from the
very beginning" at the 1914 conven-
ton, and seconded his nomination.
He did not, however, discuss the
Democratic Craftsmanship with the
President. He said he first saw in
the newspapers six weeks ago that
his name had been mentioned, and
had discussed the matter twice with
Mr.. Hannegan during the past three
weeks.
| Going to Europe October 8.
| He avoided any comment when
asked to speculate on why a man
from the industrial area of New
England with New Deal voting rec
ord in the Senate had been chosen
to head the national committee.
Senator McGrath is going to
Europe October 8 with a committee
to study the displaced persons prob
lem, but said he would return in
time for the October % meeting of
the Democratic Committee.
| Pressed for some forecast of Pres.
ident Trumans chances next year,
Senator McGrath replied, II think
at the October 20 meeting we will
advance them little and keep doing
| 1t eacn day from then on"
| Senator McGrath is understood to
have the backing of Presidential Sec
retary Matthew Connolly and 9th.
er5, as well as Mr. Hannegan.
! Besides acting on Mr.. Hannegan's
(see HANNEGAN, Page A-2J