Evening star., 1951-10-09
The Political Mil

S~sS ~ SsssiS ~ VSAS
ADA Seen as Attempting to
Boil the Democrats Out
By Gould Lincoln
The demand Of the Americans for
Democratic Action that both william
M. Boyle, jr.. chairman Of the Demo-
cratic National Committee. and Guy
George Gabrielson, chairman of the
Republican National Committee, resign
their high party Offices because Of their
RFC activities is regarded in Republic
can circles as an effort to bail the Demo-
Gratis out. The resignation Of Mr..
Gabrielson, they figure, would have the
effect of placing the G. o. P. on all fours
with the Democratic organization and
so remove perhaps very painful issue
which the Republicans have been in
tent on using.
At the present writing it does not
appear that either chairman will resign.
President Truman has put his seal Of
approval on Mr.. Boyle. The executive
committee of the Republican National
Committee has given Mr.. Gabrielson a
action Of the executive committee does
not. however. jibe with the demands OF
iate Republican Senators who have been
calling for q Gabrielson resignation
the most recent came from Senator
Nixon of California who, like the ADA.
has demanded that both Boyle and
Gabrielson get out.
Both Sure to Hold On.
Resignation by either or both Of the
chairmen would be interpreted probably
as some kind of confession of guilt
and neither is likely to quit under such
circumstances. The prospects, therefore,
are that both will hold on, certainly for
the rest Of this year and perhaps longer.
If the turmoil over RFC loans and their
part in them subsidies.
The Hoey committee Of the Senate
which has conducted the investigation
Of both Boyle and Gabrielson has still
to make report. When and If such
report Is made-and the presumption is
that 1t will be made-there may be a
different situation. Senator Nixon,
Republican member of the investigating
committee, may have given a tipof in
the statement he has made that both
chairmen should resign. Whether the
Democratic members of the committee
will care to buck President Truman to
the extent of recommending that Mr..
Boyle resign is not clear. Certainly, how
ever, some Of the Democrats In the
Senate regard Mr.. Boyle as a liability.
They would like to see him out. So far
as Mr.. Gabrielson is concerned, the
Republicans who want his scalp are
angered particularly because they feel
that he, by his actions in regard to an
RFC loan to Hydrocal. Inc. Of which
he has been president and general coun-
sci, has blanketed the charges they make
against the Democratic chairman.
Cases Vastly Different.
When it comes to the use of political
influence. the case Of Mr.. Boyle is vastly
different from that of Mr.. Gabrielson.
An official of the Democratic National
Committee may exert influence with a
Government agency in Democratic Ad-
ministration which. compared to the
influence a Republican national chair
man. would be about 100 to 0. A Republic
can who goes to a Government agency
must 60 with his hat in his hand, hoping
that the favor he requests may be
granted. He is In no position to do any
table humping. A Democratic chairman,
on the other hand, who holds in his
hands power over appointments to Office,
Is IN a position to make demands and to
get what he wants, or else. Frequently
any expression Of interest, no matter
how slight, in an applicant for Govern
ment loan. will be given instant
attention.
There is a practical angle to the
Boyle-Gabrielson matter which may give
the Republicans concern. When and If
a Democratic national chairman steps
out OF Office, President Truman will
name his successor. It's not so simple for
the Republicans. should their chairman
resign. The factions in the party, repre-
sented in the membership of the Re-
publican National Committee, may be
expected to go to war Immediately over
the choice of a GabrielSon successor.
Mr.. Gabrielson came into Office as the
result OF bitter fight to remove Repre-
sentative Hugh Scott of PENNSYLVANIA.
who was made chairman in l948 by
Gov. Dewey Of New York, after Dewey's
nomination for President. They may
well hesitate to open this Pandora's box.
II President Truman runs for re-elec-
ton, he must determine next summer
whether he will keep Mr.. Boyle as ma
tional chairman to run his campaign.
On the other hand, whomever the Re-
publicans nominate for President will be
expected to select another chairman in
place OF Mr.. Gabrielson. Mr.. Truman
would have to decide whether Mr.. Boyle
would be handicap, provided Mr..
Boyle has not eliminated himself in the
interim.
Questions and Answers