Evening star., 1952-11-27
The Political Mill
6. O. P. Chuirmunship.
Will Be VituI Post
SummerfieId Will Resign
To Take on Cabinet Job
The Political Mill
By Gould Lincoln

For the first time in many years the
Craftsmanship of the Republican Ma
tional Committee assumes major pro-
portions-in non-campaign year. Un-
less there is a drastic change in system.
the national chairman-and his COM
mittee members-will be a clearing
house for appointments to Federal Office.
big and little. The present national
chairman. Arthur E. Summerfield of
Michigan, has been selected by Presi-
dent-elect Eisenhower to serve as POST
master General-to do a business job
rather than a political one. While Mr..
Summerfield will continue on as chair
man in this important period, ending
when Gen. Eisenhower is inaugurated
President January 20. he has announced
he will resign the national chairman
ship at that time and call q meeting Of
the national committee to select his sue
ceSSor.
The new party chairman, while osten-
sibly the choice Of the members of the
national committee. will actually be the
selection of the Republican President
recognized as the head of the Repub-
lican Party. At least, that has been
the practice from time immemorial-
a sitting President deSignateS the man
whom he believes should head the party
machinery. just as presidential cam
dldate names the head of the national
committee for the presidential cam
paign. If this practice is followed, the
chance of a fight over the chairman
ship of the G. o. p. committee in Janu.
airy appears remote.
Not Confined to Committee.
The national committee is not con-
fined, in its election of new chairman,
to the membership of the committee.
The new chairman may be a member or
non-member Republican national
chairmen who have not been members
OF the national committee from their
respective States include, for example,
Herbert Brownell of New York and Rep
resentative Hugh Scott of Pennsylvania.
However, there is reason to believe that
the new chairman this time will be
picked from the committee membership.
or certainly from former members Of
the committee. Further, it is entirely
likely that the new chairman will be
chosen from Republicans who were for
Gen. Eisenhower before Chicago
although everything is being done to
heal factional wounds and bring about
united party.
Also, the job of national chairman
is expected to be full-time affair.
The man who is picked and consents
to the craftsmanship will be expected
to be in Washington and on the job
almost continuously. In the past in
addition to cabinet officers, members
of Congress and other high officials
have held the national chairmanships
of both major parties. 1t could happen
again. But Mr.. Summerfield has said
he believes that the national chair
manship should be separate and distinct
from Federal ofice-that it is not good
practice to have an official of the Gov
ernment hold the national chairman
snip and deal in essentially political
affairs-like Federal patronage and the
urbulldlng and maintenance of an ef-
flcient party organization. An official
OF the Government, whether executive
or legislative, should not, in his opinion,
let anything interfere with his handling
OF the particular job he has been ap-
pointed or elected to do.
In considerable measure, the national
committee will feel the loss of Chair
man Summerfield. an able politician and
a dynamo for work. However, the des-
ignation of this successful businessman
to take over and operate the postal sys-
tenn has been well received everywhere.
Mr. Summerf1eld has said he will do his
best to improve the service-and that
he intends to give his full time to that
end.
Among Those Considered.
Among those members of the ma.
tional committee who may be con-
sidered for the chairmanship is Harry
Darby of Kansas former Senator Mr.
Darby has declined in the past to take
on the Craftsmanship of the national
committee because of the press of busi-
ness. He was, however, one of the prime
movers in the drive to nominate Gen,
Eisenhower for President. Another is
Sinclair Weeks, national committeeman
from Massachusetts,. He too, declared
early his support of Eisenhower's nomi-
nation. He is veteran member of the
committee and has been chairman of
its funds raising committee. j. Russell
Sprague of New York and Mcintyre
FAIRIES OF California are other members
who might be in line for chairman, and
also former National Committeeman
Ralph Cake Of Oregon, who was active
in the recent campaign.