Evening star., 1948-03-26
Capital Gets Chance
To Vote in Naminq
Convention Delegates
By Chalmers M. Roberts

their one and only chance to vote
the quadrennial opportunity to
choose delegates to the Republican
and Democratic national conven-
tions
It's not as easy to cast a ballot
here as it is in the States because
the local primaries are strictly party
affairs. The two parties District
committees soon will setthe primary
dates for sometime in April or May |
The Democratic Central Commit
tee has been called to meet next |
Thursday, to name its primary date
and approve election machinery.
The primary must be held at least
a month before the national con-
vention opens on July IL.
The Republican State Committee
for the District will meet sometime
in the next two weeks for a similar
purpose.
Every four years 1t comes as a
surprise to many Washingtonians
that there is primary in the Dis
trict and that they can participate
in the selection of delegates, even
II they can't choose in November
between those who win the con-
vention nominations.
Usually there is no contest, and
q slate chosen by the respective
committees is elected by few hun
dred faithful who turn out to vote.
The delegate jobs are passed
around" among the party leaders
to keep everybody happy, as one,
official put it this week.
One-time District Commissioner
George Allen, who became promi-
nent nationally in the early days
OF the Truman Administration, was
Q leader of District Democrats for
some time. Brig. Gen. Albert L.
Cox, head Of the District National
Guard, also has been a delegate to
party conventions and already has
filed for this year.
On the Republican side, leaders
include Joseph c. McGarraghy.
local treasurer, and Edward F. Col
laday, who has been the COP ma
tional committeeman for the District
for 81 years.
Contest Possible This Year.
This year, with an intraparty
fight on in Democratic ranks and
intense Republican competition for
the coveted nomination, there is a
possibility Of some sort of contest.
The Democratic delegation to the
Philadelphia convention, it appears
today, probably will go pledged ITO
President Truman.
Melvin D. Hildreth, acting chair
man of the local Central Committee,
told The Star he believes "it is the
overwhelming desire of our commit
tee to support the President"
On the Republican side, the dele
cation probably will follow the Gus
tom OF past conventions and 60 to
Philadelphia unpledged, according
to James c. Wilkes, chairman of the
State Committee.
1t Is possible to have preferential
primary in the Democratic primary
so that members of that party can
choose their favorite candidate-if,
by that time, there are any chal-
lengers to President Truman The
Central Committee could order such
a vote, since the Democratic elec-
ton Is on a city-wide basis.
Republicans Restricted.
For a Republican to vote for his
favorite-Dewey, Taft, Vandenberg,
Stassen, Macarthur or some one
else-is almost impossible. This Is
heealISe r1yorI cyrctor,, 3e ,,e1L
the voter gets to help choose only
one Of the Sc members of the DIS
trict's "State convention" which, in
turn, chooses the Districts three
Republican delegates to the national
conclave.
The Republican convention ma
chinery allots the votes to the
District out of 1904, while the Dem
ocrats allot out of 1924.
Republicans in South Carolina,
something of a rarity, will have six
votes at the COP convention
opening June 81, while Democrats
In Vermont, a holdout even against
Roosevelt, are permitted six votes
at their convention three weeks
later.
The entire Republican and Demo-
cratic election machinery in the Dis
trict Is purely party matter. The
District government has no control
over or part in the local primaries,
as do all the 48 State governments.
Repeated efforts to set up formal
election machinery have failed of
congressional approyal
Backers of such a move have long
charged that the local party leaders
run the primaries in the dark in
order to remain in control of the
party machinery. This was charged
by many citizens during hearing
In 1910 before Senate District sub
committee on a bill introduced by
Senator Capper. Republican. of
Kansas.
New Bill Pigeonholed.
A similar bill, introduced again
IN the Eightieth Congress, is in a
District Committee pigeonhole. The
bill would set up a local board of
elections to run primaries for all
parties, as is done in the States. '
MIR. Hildreth said yesterday he {
personally thinks there should be 3:
some sort of regulation of the
primaries-we're a big town now,
and in some convention our six
votes might be vitally important"
Mr.. Wilkes said he is unfamiliar
with the bill, but he commented that
1t would be "a good thing" pro-
vided 1t would invite widespread
public participation" in the primary.
Under present regulations laid
down by the two parties, a candidate
Tor one Of the six delegate jobs at
the Democratic convention must put
up a 5000 fee. The funds 20 to
defray election expenses and to
maintain and absentee voting Office
for District residents who can vote
elsewhere by mail.
The Republicans do not charge