Evening star., 1952-07-10
The Political Mill
6. o. P. Is Undergoing
Major Operation Now
National Committee to Have
About Is New Members
By Gould Lincoln

Uy 9Ou1U GlUCOtU
CHICAGO. July 10-The Republican
national organization is going through
a major operation at this Chicago con-
vention. When the dust has cleared, the
party's national committee will have
about IS new members. Many of the
oldest members in point of service, and
some of them in years. will have passed
out Of the picture. Whether this is con-
sidered face-lifting operation depends
on which wing of the Republican Party
is voicing an opinion.
Nothing more exemplifies the trend.
however, than the elimination Of that
veteran Of veterans, John jackson Of
Louisiana.
He was tossed overboard-like Jonah
in desperate effort to save the Taft
candidacy for the republican presidential
nomination. Mr.. Jackson had labored In
the vineyard. He had been able. through
his control Of the Republican committee
Of Louisiana, to send up here q delega-
ton ommitted-except for two menu
bers-to vote for Senator Taft Of Ohio.
Presented Case Boldly.
Boldly and with entire confidence Mr..
jackson presented his case for the seat
ing OF the Taft Louisiana delegates be-
fore the Republican National Committee.
Didn't he know that the national COM
mittee. in which he and his Taft-sup-
porting colleagues held a solid majority.
would sustain him? OF course he did.
The national committee came through
with a handsome vote-60 to Alto
place Mr.. JackSon's hand-picked dele
gates on the temporary roll Of the ma
tional convention.
1t was in vain that the representa-
tives of "the new Republican Party"
headed by John Miner Wisdom, a pro-
fessor at Tulane University, showed the
national committee just how the dele
gates had been stolen" by the jackson
crowd. through the use of minority and
rump convention. and how in the actual
ward and parish conventions his group,
supporting Gen. Eisenhower for the
presidential nomination, had defeated
the jackson people as much as three
and four to one. Mr.. Jackson, to the
majority Of the committee. was simon
pure.
OF all the contested delegate cases
submitted to the national committee,
this Louisiana case had the worst smell.
When it was handed to the Credentials
Committee of the national convention
for hearing and decision, the Taft
leaders had a sudden change of heart.
They decreed that Mr.. Jackson and his
delegates had to go: they gave up and
tossed in the towel: they voted with
the Eisenhower people to give q unani-
NOUS Endorsement to the Wisdom dele.
gates.
1t was not pretty picture. but it
was done because the Taft leaders could
not afford to 60 before the national
convention and seek to have the jack
son delegates seated.
Some Voluntarily Retire.
Some of the members of the national
committee who no longer will be in
Office at the end of this convention
have voluntarily retired-among them
Harrison E. Spangler of Iowa, one-tims
chairman Of the national committee.
But others were defeated for reelection
under the laws and practices Of their
own States. In these cases. 1t was the
supporters Of Gen. Eisenhower who
moved in and removed pro-Taft old
timers. This happened in Connecticut
and Rhode Island, for example, and In
Minnesota. Since members of the ma
tional committee are elected for four
year terms. the oldsters will continue to
serve until the close Of this convention.
The trend toward more liberal things
made itself felt, too.
The State delegations which have not
had their members Of the national
committee named before coming to Chi
cago will elect them here. -<
The Republican Party delegation from
Louisiana will pick the national COM
mitteeman and submit his name to the
convention for final approval. This is
accustomed procedure.
1t matters not which of the candi-
dates for the presidential nomination
wins, the makeup Of the party's ma
tional committee will be materially
changed. for better or worse. In some
Of the States. like Louisiana, the re-
vamped organizations will be carefully
watched.