Evening star., 1948-06-13

mmittee may be called on to swing
The keynoter makes q speech prais-
ing his party and lambasting the
opposition party.
After the convention adopts the
report of the Credentials Committee
on the roll of delegates. Temporary
Chairman Green will hand over the
gavel to Speaker Joseph w. Martin,
jr., the permanent chairman.
For the first time woman will be
secretary of the Republican con-
vention. She is Mrs. Dudley G. Hay
of Detroit, secretary of the national
committee. She will keep a record
of balloting for presidential and
vice presidential nominees.
The national committee meets
two or three times year. 1t has an
Executive Committee which meets
more often. Chairman OF the
Executive Committee is Representa-
tive Clarence j. Brown of Ohio, the
only member of Congress on the
national committee.
Chairman Reece has an assitant
chairman, Mrs. Robert w. Macauley
of Iowa and Washington. She Is the
director of the women's division OF
the party. James S. Kemper OF
Chicago is committee treasurer, and
Harrison E. Spangler, Cedar Rapids,
Iowa, is general counsel.
Oficers of the National Com
mittee are ex-officio members of the
Executive Committee.
Rough Going for Democrats
The Democratic National Conn
mittee, which hasn't lost a presi-
Dental election battle since 1928,
faces rougher going this year.
Political revolt in the South
against President Truman compli-
Gates the No. l job of the Com
mittee. That job, according to the
Democratic Party manual, is Com
troll and direction Of the national
campaign"
One of the leaders of the fight
against Mr.. Truman on the civil
rights issue is Senator Olin D.
Johnston Of South Carolina, o
member OF the National Committee.
Also opposing the President are
Democratic State chairmen in some
Southern States, as well as United
States Senators and Governors.
The National Committee usually
works very closely with State chair
men. They often have greater po-
litical influence in their States than
National committeeman from those
States.
Expelled Members in '96
The National Committee rarely
takes drastic action against ''in-
surgent" members. 1t is empowered.
however, to expel members for cause
and has used this power. In 1895
it took off the committee rolls the
names of members who actively
opposed the election of presidential
nominee william j. Bryan.
Chief trouble-shooter for the
Democratic Committee is Chairman
j. Howard McGrath, a Senator and
three-term former Governor Of
Rhode Island.
Mr.. McGrath, A, has never been
defeated in race for political Office.
He climbed in, IT years from a city
solicitors job to the national chair
manship. He enjoys people. is brisk,
amiable, good extemporaneous
speaker.
He has said president Truman
should be nominated Immediately
and unanimously at the Demo-
cratic Convention which opens in
Philadelphia July IL.
Barkley Is Keynoter
He will call the Democratic Con-
vention to order and will preside
until temporary officers are elected.
The National Committee has named
Senator Barkley of Kentucky as
temporary chairman and keynote
speaker. He will preside until Rep
resentative Sam Rayburn of Texas,
designated permanent chairman by
the committee, takes the gayel.
Among the members of the Ma
tional Committee are three big
time city politicians, former Mayor
Edward J. Kelly of Chicago, Edward
j. Flynn of New York and Frank
Hague Of New Jersey. Mr.. Flynn
Is a former national chairman.
As vice chairman of the commit
tee, Mrs. Charles w. Tillett Of
North Carolina is the top-ranking
woman in the Democratic party Or
ganization. Mrs. Tillett, wife of q
former president of the North Car
olina Bar Association and daughter
of q justice of the State Supreme
Court, has been prominent In po-
litical work for many years.
Mrs. Dorothy McElroy Vreden-
burgh, formerly of Mississippi, Is
secretary Of the committee. She is
the first woman to hold that posi-
ton in either major party. Mrs.
India Edwards, former Chicago
newspaper woman, is director OF the
women's division.
Democrats Number 108
The committee is composed OF
one man and one woman from
each State and from the District OF
Columbia, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto
Rico, the Canal Zone and Virgin
Islands. The total membership Is
108.
Committee members are selected
in % States and territorial posses
sions by party State conventions, in
1s States by delegates to the ma
tional conventions, in 8 States by
State committees and In States
- 49, rs,&rinf of Columbia nv