Evening star., 1951-01-23
The Political Min
6. O. P. Lacks Finances
To Gain '52Victory
Goal Of 81. 500. 900 Is Set
For Election Groundwork
By Gould Lincoln

For Election Groundwork
By Gould Lincoln
The Republican National Committee.
meeting here on Friday, is faced with
the job of planning its financial cam
paign for 1851. No political organiza-
ton in these days seems able to get
along without money-plenty Of money
in its treasury provides for the political
sinews Of political war. Organization
takes money and organization is the
prime need. The goal is said to be ST.
100000. Each State. Territory and the
District of Columbia will be assigned
its quota. applying the principle of
ability to contribute.
Almost it seems that 1t would be an
easy task to find one million six hun
dred thousand men and women who
would contribute one dollar each to the
Republican cause. The trick, of course,
Is to reach that number Of persons and
persuade them to hand over one buck
each. If some effective plan is developed
to obtain such contributions, the G. o. p.
will not have to depend on large indi-
vidual contributions-and there could
be no cry raised that large contributors
were seeking special privileges.
Groundwork Needed.
Despite the Republican victories -
which were great-in the recent con-
gressional and State elections. the rlmor
is that money has not been rolling into
the Golfers of the party's national
organization. Something. it appears, has
to be done about it. The presidential
campaign is only year and half away.
and much groundwork must be done
in 1851 If victory is to be won in 1852.
The Republican Finance Committee is
meeting here, too, this week in advance
of the national committee ITSELF
Barring major war in the next two
years, Republican chances for success
at the polls in November, 1852, should
be good. Even if the Nation does be-
come engulfed in war, the Democrats
will not have walkaway as they did in
1910 and 1914. The threat of higher and
higher taxes will have become reality.
and the leadership which put the Ameri-
can people into such position will be
a factor in the contest between the
major political parties. Indeed, it was q
potent factor in the elections last No
vember. For too many people had lost
confidence in the administration in
Washington. But all this does not
obliterate the need for organization
and the money it takes.
The national committee is expected to
appoint subcommittee to look into the
question OF site-a city-in which to
hold the Republican National Conven-
tion of 1852, and also to fix on a time
for the convention. These are duties
particularly assigned to the national
committee. There will be no report on
either site or time until next winter, in
all probability. When it comes, the intra-
party maneuvering of this and that can
didate for the presidential nomination
will in all likelihood step into the pic
ture. The Taft forces, the Warren forces.
the Dewey forces and perhaps the Eisen-
hover forces will have ideas, either for
the East Coast, the West Coast, or the
Central States.
Lot Depends on Cities.
In the end. lot will depend on the
willingness of the cities to contribute a
quarter of a million dollars to have
the privilege of holding the convention
within their confines. The availability
Of television coverage had much to do
with the selection Of Philadelphia in
1948. and it may be an important factor
next year.
At one time, not long ago. proposal
was put forward by some Republicans
that the national committee should take
leaf out of the Democratic book and
hold in Washington and other cities
500 plate dinners to raise money for
the committee. Two very good reasons
were advanced against this. First, that
the Republicans with their Lincoln Day
dollar supper meetings last year broke
through the idea that the G. o. P.
was merely the party of the very rich,
and to slide over to diamond brooch
boiled-shirt affairs of the Democrats
would be 6. mistake. Second the Re-
publicans are in no position-such as
that occupied by the Democrats-where
they can shake down Office holders.
lobbyists and contractors for half a
million dollars, through the $100 din
ners held here in honor of Jefferson and
Jackson.
So the Republicans are going ahead
with frugal, buck-a-box Lincoln Day
supper parties, here and in other cities
throughout the country. They are parties
that almost any one can afford-and
at which they can hear top-line speakers
and good music.