Evening star., 1952-04-21
| Democratic Club Asks
Central Committee
To Clarity Primary
By Crosby S. Moves

An open letter from the District
Democratic Club to the Demo-
cratic Central Committee today
demanded that certain vague
aspects" Of the coming Demo-
cratic primary be cleared up.
William F. Fadler, executive
vice president of the club, pre-
scented the committee with a list
of questions coverin gthe qualifi-
cations for candidates in the pri-
mary and methods of filing.
He called for prompt and pub
lie answers in order to stop spec
Iulation as to the objectivity of the
Central Committees handling of
the election"
The letter was addressed to
Committee Chairman A. L.
Wheeler and Melvin D. Hildreth,
Democratic national committee
man. Mr.. Wheeler was not i'm
mediately available for comment
Mr.. Hildreth said he was sur
prised by the questions.
No Change Since 1912.
1.-THE rules of the primary are
published every four years by pub
lie advertisement in the news
papers," he said. "They will be
published this year a month ahead
of the elections on June II. Mr.
Fadler must know this. He also
should know that the rules haven't
been changed since 1912"
| In his letter, Mr.. Fadler OBJ
served that the primary will be
held at firehouses throughout the
District. Voters will elect mem
bers of the Central Committee fol
the next four years, national
committeeman and committee
woman and delegates for the ma
tional convention.
Certain members of this Or
ganization and other Democrats
not now on the Central Commit
tee, nor serving on the Demo
cratic National Committee plan to
enter the election as candidates, u
the letter said.
Gives Requirements.
Specifically, Mr.. Fadler asked
for the requirements for candi-
dates in each category. Mr.. Hill
dreth says the requirements for
members of the Central Commit
tee or delegates to the convention
are residence in the District fol
one year and no votes in State
elections within that period. The
requirements for national COM
mitteeman or committeewoman
are sitter. requiring District resi-
dence and no voting residence,
elsewhere. Traditionally, the
posts have gone to longtime Dis
trict residents, Mr.. Hildreth said
In answer to questions about
how candidates go about getting
on the ballot, Mr.. Hildreth said
notification should be sent to the
treasurer Of the Central Commit
tee. The notice should be &C
companied by check for the fl
ing fee. The fee-which goes to
Ipay for the cost Of the primary
is 5000 for delegates and national
committeeman; $25 for Central
Committee candidates.
Finally, Mr.. Fadler wanted to
know about the Election Commit
tee of the Central Committee. He
asked when and by whom the
committee was appointed and
whether recommendations could
be made to it.
Bill Up Tomorrow.
"I don't know what he means by
that" Mr.. Hildreth said. He ex-
planned that the committee is ap-
pointed by the Central Committee
to handle the technical details of
the primary, the printing of bal
lots and SO on. It does decide
policy for the primary, which is
made by the National Committee,
Mr.. Hildreth said.
On the Republican side. mean
while. there was activity among
supporters Of Gen. Eisenhower to
speed passage of a standardized
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