Evening star., 1952-11-26

ARTHUR SUMMERFIELD.
Postmaster General.
the increase of it's morale will be
my paramount objectives in the
public interest"
In response to questions, Mr.
Summerfield said his business in
terests include a couple of direc-
torships in insurance companies
plus number of companies in
which he either owns whole OF
controlling interest. Principal
among these is the SummerfielG
Chevrolet Co. at Flint, one of the
largest retail automobile agencies
IN America.
He said, however, he plans to
disassociate himself from all active
participation in private business
When a reporter asked if the
Post Office Department does not
purchase large quantities of auto
motive equipment, Mr.. Summer
field - chubby, pink-faced and
good-humored-joined in a roar of
laughter across the room and an
swered chuckling:
"Yes. I am aware of that"
The new appointee announced
he will assemble the Republican
Committee around Inauguration
time. January 20, to accept his
resignation and choose a new
chairman. He said he has not
decided whether he will also re-
sign as Republican national COM
mitteeman from Michigan.
Will Succeed Donaldson.
Mr.. Summerfield will take over
the giant Post Office Department
and it's 100000 employees from
Jesse M. Donaldson, civil service
career man in the postal service
for IS years, who was named to
the top job by President Truman
in 1945.
Mr.. Donaldson last night sent
Mr.. Summerfield a message OF
congratulations on his appoint
ment. Mr.. Donaldson placed him
self entirely at the disposal OF
the new appointee in order tc
make the transfer of authority as
smooth as possible. Mr.. Summer
field described the message as
gracious and said he would GER
tainly take advantage of it by
seeking early conferences with the
present postal chief.
Meanwhile, Mr.. Summerfield
asked to be excused from discuss
ing postal deficits. postage rates
and the quality of the mail serv-
ice, until he has had more oppor-
tunity to study operations.
Mr.. Donaldson, 81, has a choice
of seeking continued service in q
top-rated Post Office job, or taking
the full retirement benefits tc
which he is entitled.
He told a reporter: "I can't &C
fishing at this time of year. and
I am no hunter. My only plan
is to take a long rest, then look
around, North, East, South ano
West, to see where I will land"
Went to Work at 13.
Mr.. Summerfield, who was made
party chairman Immediately after
the Eisenhower nomination al
Chicago and who steered the sue
cessful Republican campaign, is
a native of Pinconning, Mich.
completed eight grades of schoo
and went to work at 13 in indus
trial plants around Detroit, work
ing for both Buick and Chevrolet
Subsequently, he was rea
estate operator and successful oil
distributor in Michigan anc
founded his retail automobile
business in 1929.
He and Mrs. Summerf1eld, the
former Miriam w. Grain. have
two children, Arthur E. Summer.
field, jr., and Mrs. William c
Dawson, both of Flint, and foul
grandchildren.
Post Office Department appoint.
ments are not the political plum'
they once were. Except for tht
topmost jobs, virtually the entire
personnel is in civil service, in
cluding all postmasters. The lat
ter are now chosen after exam
ination from among the three
making the highest grades. Ant
vacanies among the 41,000 post
masterships now occur only b!
resignation, death. voluntary re-
tirement or removal for miscon
duct.
Mr.. Sumerf1eld declined to spec
ulate on who his successor a
Republican chairman might be
However, Capital talk has in
cluded the names of Sinclai
Weeks, Massachusetts nationa
committeeman; Senator Lodge o
Massachusetts. who was defeate'
for reelection; Senator Seaton o
Nebraska, who did not seek re
election, and Tom Coleman of Wis
consin. who was floor manage
for the Taft forces at the nominal
ing convention.
r.