Evening star., 1952-06-26
Presidents Should Quiz
Leadership Of Party,
Richberg Declares
BY the Associated Press

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va, June
26.-Donald r. Richberg. former
NRA chief. today proposed that
the President of the United States
be required to retire from political
party leadership on the day he
takes the oath of Office.
He made the suggestion in a
panel discussion this morning
opening the 18th Institute OF
Public Affairs, sponsored by the
University of Virginia. All but
three days of the week-long con-
ference will be used to explore the
topic. Problems of the Presi-
dency." Foreign problems will
take up the remaining time.
Participants in the institute will
be formally welcomed tonight by
Gov Battle and University Presi-
dent Colgate w. Darden, jr. Sen
ator Byrd, Democrat. of Virginia,
will be the main speaker at that
session, talking on Federal fl
nances.
Highlight of the program will
be talks by Senators Taft and Ke-
fauver.
Senator Taft will address a pub
lie session tomorrow night and at
tend a luncheon with Virginia
G. o. P. delegates to the National
Convention.
Mr.. Kefauver will speak Mon
day night. And an Eisenhower
supporter, Senator Flanders, Re-
publican, of Vermont, will be on
the program Saturday night to
help balance the picture.
Mr.. Richberg told the morning
panel:
Public opinion should force di-
vorcement of the President from
all partisan political activities and
responsibilities. Politically clean
hands should be expected of the
EIcSluGIG.
Bribery by handing out polit-
ical jobs and distributing subsidies
must be recognized as little differ
ent morally from buying votes or
official favors by direct payment
of cash. This sordid traffic may
be an unavoidable pattern of prac-
tical politics, but in respect for
the highest office in the land, we
might reasonably insist that the
President should have no part of
1t, and certainly not serve as head
and front of this offending"
Another panel member, Robert
L. L. Mccormick, research direc-
tor of the Citizens Committee for
the Hoover Report, said the Ma
tlon's next President must gather
about him men of competence and
integrity and the ability to save
money. He said the President
must show rare courage and forti-
tude in fighting off pressure
groups.
He said the slowness of imple-
menting Hoover Commission rec
concentrations by some Govern
ment agencies indicated "the type
OF bureaucratic problems" the new
President must face.
Marquis Childs, Washington COL
umnist. presided over the session.
Edward S. Corwin, former
Princeton professor of jurispru-
dence. proposed to the panel a
new system of recasting electoral
districts every 10 years in order to
end the discrepancy between the
congressional electorate and the
presidential electorate. He said
this discrepancy was the basis for
Mr.. Truman's current conflict
with Congress.
He suggested a constitutional
amendment with three require
ments:
l. That presidential electors
be chosen in electoral districts
laid out by Congress every 10
years.
2. That the requirement that
the President receive the ma jority
OF electoral votes be retained.
3. That when a candidate fails
to receive a majority, the House
OF Representatives name the
President by per capita vote, not
by States.