Evening star., 1947-08-07
The Political Mil
Democrats to Elect
Chuirmun Next Month
Hanneean Advised by Physicians
Not to Hold Two Offices
By Gould Liseoln

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Not to Hold Two Offices
By Gould LineoIn
The Democratic National Committee will
meet here next month to pick q city for ths
1948 Democratic National Convention-and
probably . new chairman Of the eomnnittee.
Postmaster General Robert T. Hannegan, thu
present chairman. hag been told by physicians
he should not continue TO hold both Offices
and the national chairmanship. IN view of
the approaching presidential campaign, will
be strenuous In the extreme
Gael Sullivan. youthful and dynamic execu-
tive director of the national committee, who
for months has been trying to breathe new
life into an organization which grew habby
while it rode along on the eoattails OF the late
President Franklin D. Roosevelt, will not have
the job.
Mr.. Sullivan has been the victim of series
Of unfortunate "breaks' since he took over
the job Of running the affairs OF the national
committee last winter. while Chairman Han
negan was seeking to regain his health in
Florida and elsewhere. A political protese
Of former Mayor Ed Kelly Of Chicago AZ well
rs = personal friend OF Mr.. Hannegan, Mr.
Sullivan was made executive director with the
III,
would take over the national chairmanship
when Mr.. Hannesan stepped out AS Of today
however. the only chance he will remain with
the committee appears to rest upon Mr. Han
negan's continuing as national chairman,
Names Mentioned.
If Mr.. Hannegan gives I'D the national
chairmanship, the Office may 20 to Secretary
of Agriculture Clinton p. Anderson, q former
popular member OF Congress from New Mexico
Others whose names are mentioned In con-
nection with the chairmanship are former
Senator Jackson OF Indiana, who served In
the Upper House with President Truman:
former Gov. Kerr of Oklahoma and Leslie
Bifhs. former Secretary Of the Senate and ut
present executive ofncer Of the Minority Fol
icy Committee Of the Senate, close friend
OF the President. When q change in the
national chairmanship is made. the President
will make the selection Of the new chairman
presumably with the idea In mind that he
will have to run the coming national cam
paign.
The call for q meeting Of the Democratic
National COMMITTEES Is In preparation, and the
date will be around September "a. Chairman
Hannegan, now on the Pacific Coast, is sx-
pected to return to Washington the last Of
August. He has been Ia California, trying to
bring some semblance Of order out Of q chaotic
situation In the Democratic Party there even
to the extent Of seeking to make an arrange-
ment to take the Democratic National Con-
vsntion to San Francisco or Los Angeles
In addition TO the two California cities men
toned, Philadelphia and Chicago are potential
hosts Of the national convention The only
ono 70 far TO come through wiSh q defnits
cash o6sr n Phfladelphia-wiaeh proposes to
raise $3.50 600 to defrsy the convention expenses.
the same amount It has pledged the Reputai-
cans.
Frvnsan Inelinsd 10 CksseasA.
Here, again. President Truman h ltkeay ts
have much TO say IN the hnal dissemination.
He il inclined 10 Chicago where Franklin ID.
Roosevelt was three times Nominated and won.
and where Mr.. Truman himself was selected
for the vios presidential nominAtton. This may
be largely sentimental and ths President mtst,t
be argued out Of that attitude, provided ho can
be shown that there u sorns poaitacal Advan-
tass in holding the sonvsntioa elsewhere.
One reason advanced for going 10 ean Fran
cisco is the fact that ths unassd Nations had
its birth thers-not long after MS. Truman
became President. A. DemocratAo lsadsrs rec
the coming campaign, . madn plank oS the
Truman ticket VIII b an tnsistenes On world
peaoe-throush tho United Nations, n pos
sible. The practical side Of ths iasas, howsvs1,
lies in tbs thought that national sonvsntaon
In San Francisco might heal TIE SERIOUS dif-
ferenees which have arisen in Dsmooratis
ranks in California, with the Bob Kenny fac
ton following Henry wallace and his foreign
policy ideas and with Jimmy" Roosevelt, chair
man Of the Democratic stats COMMITTEES, ut
odds with young VIII Rogers o-sr the Truman
foreign policy, although not eonanittsd 10 WAL
lace Tho late President casrisd CaIifornia
four times. Mr.. Truman. In his campaign for
election mart year. cannot afford 10 loss taas
stats-partisulariy ~ he may very well lose
New York.
whoever handles the Truman campaign Will
have . mammoth job On hls hands. primarily
an organizational job. Too many Democratic
county committeeman have become old; sonxd
Of the county eosrthousss has passed ont n
Democratic hands: TOO many precinct ehAirmsn
are old or nonexistsnt
Questions and Answers