Evening star., 1952-03-04
D. Campaign
For Eisenhower
Delegates Seen
Supporters Await
Reply to Demand
For LiberuIized Rules
By Don S. Worren

A4CIc W clcCC OlSCTlCC QelegaCeS TO
the July 7 Republican convention
in Chicago.
Basic problems were outlined at
a meeting yesterday of more than
q score of Republican precinct
workers. A later and larger meet
ing Of local Eisenhower workers
is being planned. officials said.
Meanwhile, leaders of the Dis
trict Eisenhower Club were await
ing a reply from spokesmen for
the Republican State Committee
here to the Eisenhower groups de.
mandS for reforms in the selec-
ton Of Republican District dele
gates.
In this 800-word "ultimatum,"
Robert E. Mclaughlin, president
of the District Eisenhower Club.
demanded an ending of "arbi-
traW" and restrictive" past prac-
tices. which he said. in 1948, led
to charges of many abuses Of
citizens civil rights"
Law Held Alternative.
Unless minimum safeguards for
a more open selection of District
Republican delegates to the ma
tional convention are set up, Mr..
Mclaughlin wrote, I'VE shall be
constrained to seek immediate
hearings and legislation to estab-
liSh primary election law for the
District"
The Eisenhower hackers have
voiced fears their man would be
frozen out and all six of the
Districts Republican convention
delegates would 60 for Ohio's
Senator Taft, unless the local elec.
ton rules were relaxed.
Joseph c. McGarraghy, chair.
man of District Republican Com
mittee, has promised an answer.
He told The Star yesterday he had
just received the letter and had
not had a chance to consider it.
He said he would reply in a day
or SO.
Wants Registration Lists.
MIR. Mclaughlin said he also
was writing a second letter to
formalize an earlier request that
the Eisenhower group be given
access to the lists of all Repub-
licans registered here in the l948
convention delegate voting. He
said he wanted this to permit
Eisenhower hackers to contact
known potential. 1852 voters. On
this Mr.. McGarraghs also delayed
comment.
The Republican "old guard"
here indicated last night it may
yield on at least one point. The
Eisenhower supporters are de-
manding that they be consulted
before final 1852 rules are adopted
for the spring delegate elections.
Mr.. McGarraghy told q reporter
his committee would be glad to
have the views of any Republican
group"
Whatever rules are adopted.
however. would be by the COM
mittee now holding Office.
Four Specific Objectives.
In their call for changes in
Republican delegate election rules
here the Eisenhower group de-
manded these four specific things:
l. Public registration, during
specific hours. on a fixed date or
dates, in specified public places.
with full information and q
months advance public notice.
2. Secret balloting in the elec-
ton of precinct delegates to the
"state convention" here. where
national convention delegates
finally are named.
3. Precinct boundaries to be
fixed and definitely proclaimed in
ample time for all to know their
precincts in advance of meetings.
4. Inclusion of one Eisenhower
supporter at each registration and
polling place as an official regis
tration or election clerk. with &C
cess to election documents and
Would Ban Secret Test.
With these were coupled de-
mands for a ban on "secret regis
trations": for a rule giving any
registered Republican voter free
access to registration lists, and a
rule requiring that qualifications
for Republican registration be
given wide advance public notice.
"The Republican Party in the
Nations Capital" the Mclaughlin
letter declared, must stand be-
fore the country. and the world,
free from any suggestion that 1t
is anything less than a party
through which all Republicans, big
and little, can effectively express
their political principles and pref.
erences.
Lip service to high principles
is not enough"
Rules Held Arbitrary.
And the Eisenhower Club letter
added: 1T is perfectly obvious to
our committee that (old) rules are
in the extreme and vest
nearly all election powers in the
State Committee chairman (Mr.
McGarraghy). with no effective re-
course open to individuals or to
large groups who might be injured
BY highly arbitrary rulings by the
chairman"
In conclusion the letter said:
"The Eisenhower group, COM
posed almost entirely of Republi-
cans of long standing, does not
seek to take over the Offices Of
The District State Committee; but
it finds the present practices and
procedures i. to be both restric-
i've to the growth Of the Repub-
ican Party (here) and unfair to
certain candidates"
The Eisenhower group "reluc-
;antly will be forced to take more
irastic action If fair election rules
cannot be agreed upon" the fac
ion warned.