Evening star., 1949-01-22
| The Political Mill
Harmony Will Be Sought
InG.O.P. Omuhu Meeting
Party Leaders Out to Stop Snipins
On Liberal VS.. Conservative Aims
By Gould Lincoln

Harmony and q slackening Of the battle over
making the Republican Party either more
liberal or more conservative are two objectives
of party leaders leaving here to attend the first
meeting of the Republican National Committee
since the national campaign which ended SO
disastrously for the G. o. P. The meeting will
be held January 26 and 27 in Omaha.
Almost as soon as the ballots had been
counted last November Republicans began
sniping at each other, seeking to place the
blame for defeat on the shoulders Of Gov.
Dewey Of New York, the candidate for Pres
idept; on the shoulders of the 80th Congress,
which President Truman had made a punching
bag; on the shoulders of the Dewey campaign
manager, Herbert Brownell jr., and his
assistant or on those Of Chairman Scott Of
the national committee. In their disappoint-
ment, some Of the Republican leaders were
bitter. One OF the scalps they demanded was
that of Chairman Scott, who had been selected
by Gov Dewey to head the national committee,
Immediately after Gov. Dewey had been
nominated at the party's national convention
In Philadelphia last June.
Scott Has Support.
Chairman Scott Representative from Penn
sylvania who was reelected November 2, took
cogniZance of the demand for q new chairman.
He said fatty he was not going to get out;
that he would fight, If necessary. He went so
far as to mention that there were recorded
conversations with all members of the national
committee made shortly before the election, in
which they individually expressed approval of
the campaign that was being made-and that
these recordings could be produced II necessary.
Several possible successors to Mr. Scott as
national chairman were trotted out-the prin-
clpal one being former Representative Dirksen
OF Illinois In recent weeks, however the thirst
for Mr. SCOTS political blood appears to
have subsidized. Further, Mr.. Scott was busy
lining up support among the los members Of
the national committee who would have the
say whether he remained chairman or was re-
lieved of the job.
From 10 to 80 Of the committee members
are reported committed to Mr. Scott It ap-
pears very doubtful that under these circum-
stances any real effort will be made to oust
Mr. Scott and give the Craftsmanship to an
other man. II any plan to get" Mr. Scott is
IN the making, it is being made very quietly
Chairman Scott does not have to be reelected
he's in for four years If he cares to stay.
Only vote Of no confidence might dislodge
him.
1t is borne in upon the Republicans that
are to win control of either house of Congress
in the 1850 elections. Four Republican Sena-
tors will attend the meeting of the national
committee, to give advice and to give also an
idea of what the Republicans in Congress will
do in legislative way in the coming months.
They are Senators Butler and Wherry of Ne
braska-the latter the Republican floor leader
of the Senate-and Senators Brewster OF
Maine and Capehart Of Indiana. Senator
Brewster has been directed by the Republican
Policy Committee chairman, Senator Taft, to
make the trip and to represent the Republican
Senatorial Campaign Committee.
young Turks" Left Out.
This group Of Senators decidedly represents
the conservative wing Of the party--none Of
the so-called young Turks" in the lot They
want peace, however. and believe that 1t is
better for the Republicans to stick together
and fight the Democrats than to fight each
other. They point out that two years hence
the Republicans have an opportunity to make
sufficient gains in the Senate to recapture
control of that body, or at least narrow the
control now held by the Democrats. A dozen
Democratic Senators from States outside of the
solid South are up for reelection then,
whereas in 1852 there are only four. So the
rVepuollIdllS are ALREADY planning nara drlVe
for the Senate.
Slowly the Republicans are getting back a
bit of courage after the drubbing they took at
the polls last November 2. The meeting Of
the national committee will be an occasion
for much advice (what to do and what not to
do in the future. 1t is apparent that Gov.
Dewey has no intention of slipping out of the
political picture: that he intends to continue
itl11o If tbo Iya ic
to Washington to make major political speech
at the Lincoln day banquet here. Considering
Mr.. DeWey's course since he left college, it
would be fantastic to believe he would give up.
For more than half his life he has been busily
engaged in politics.
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