Evening star., 1948-05-07
District 6. @. P,
fractional Fight
Takes New Turn
Foley Says UnpIedeed
Delegates Will Have
Bargaining Power

The internal fight in the local Re.
publican Party took a new turn to.
day.
Paul j. Foley, leader of an anti
organization group, declared that,
II Washington's three delegates 90
to the Philadelphia convention un-
instructed, they will have terrific
bargaining power that may influ-
ence local government administra-
ton In the event of party victory
next November.
IN the interest Of good govern
meme and clean politics. we would
like to have them committed to
some candidate" Mr.. Foley told a
reporter.
In Strategic Position.
Otherwise, he explained, the Dis
trict delegation may be in a strategic
position to influence ballotinp,
which promises to be close, as well
as influencing a candidate who NAV
become the next President.
The President, he continued, ap-
points the District Commissioners
and nominates judges Ior the local
courts.
"It will be the objective of the
Wilkes-McGarraghy machine to
send uncommitted delegates to the
convention in Philadelphia" Mr..
Foley said. 1T Is our hope and en-
deavor to have the body as a whole
determine who shall be the candi-
date for which they vote"
Mr.. Foley observed that his suit
was unique" inasmuch as he was
seeking relief under common law
since the District has no election
laws. In all the States, party pri-
marles are governed by State sta
tutes. However, advocates of a sim
liar law for Washington have to get
congressional action.
Four Named in Suit.
James c. Wilkes, committee chair.
man, and Mr.. McGarraghy were
among four defendants named in
a suit filed in District Court yes
terday by Mr.. Foley and two
other Republicans. They seek to
halt a party convention next
Thursday, at which three delegates
and three alternates will be named
for the June convention in Phila-
delphia.
Mr.. Foley said it has come to his
attention that the machine is in
clined toward Senator Taft, where
as our group has some supporters
for Stassen, Dewey and Vanden-
berg"
Meanwhile. Republican leaders
went ahead with plans for a meet.
ing tonight of 43 precinct delegates,
who will name an equal number of
delegates at large for next Thurs
days local convention.
Mr.. Foley promised some fire.
works" at tonight's meeting, sched-
uled for the Willard Hotel. Mr..
Foley is delegate from precinct "a.
In a statement late yesterday,
Mr.. Wilkes, an attorney, declared
the precinct elections had been held
strictly in accordance with the
rules adopted by the Republican
State Committee, as authorized by
the. Republican National Committee,
and there is no known basis for any
suit
He added that in only four pre-
cincts had questions on voting been
raised and that these were now be-
ing considered by the Credentials
Committee, headed by Joseph c.
McGarraghy. This committee Is
expected to make it's report tonight.
Mr.. Wilkes noted that he learned
of filing of the suit 'only as re-
suit of call from the press
Wants Ito Open Party Here"
Mr.. Foley. noting trend toward
suffrage here said that his group
wants ito open the party to the
Washington public so the rank and
file can participate
The suit alleged voters in last
weeks elections were given as little
as IL hours notice of meetings, that
some voters were barred from at
tendance in private homes and that
"entrenched officials and persons
friencly to the defendants were sent
to precinct meetings to supervise
meetings in precincts in which they
did not reside in violation of the
rules of the Republican Party"
1t further charged that meetings
were called ''in places which are
commonly known to exclude colored
persons in precincts where there
were such regiStrants.
Joseph C. McGarraghy, treasurer
of the local State Committee, said
SO far as he could recall the Dis
trict delegation has always gone
to the convention uncommitted to
any candidate
1T is traditional for the delega-
ton to 60 uninstructed and not to
get into a contest in our district
elections over candidates because
we have to support and live with
whoever is nominated and elected"
Mr. Mc(Iarra phv told paucp,op