Evening star., 1953-01-06
The Political Mill i
Kunsun Seen as Head
Of 6. O. P. Committee
No Taft Wing Revolt Likely
Over Choice of Roberts
The Political Mill
By Gould Lincoln

vehicle for bitter factiOnal strife on
q number of occasions during the last
20 years, is to hold an important meet
ing here January II. Harmony Is ex-
pected to prevail: Arthur E. Summer
field of Michigan, national chairman.
Is submitting his resignation-for Mr..
Summerfield is to be appointed POST
master General in the Eisenhower cab.
met and does not believe that one man
can successfully do two jobs of such
magnitude. Wesley Roberts of Kan
sas. director of organization during the
last presidential campaign, is expected
to be his successor. In fact, inquiry
among members of the national COM
mittee now in Washington develops a
bilities for the national Craftsmanship.
Since the choice of a national chair
man has come to be considered q pre-
rogative of an incumbent President of
the United States-of his own partic-
ular party-the selection of the new
chairman will be President-elect Eli
senhower's. Mr.. Roberts. it is reported
in high quarters, will get the nod. He
Is well qualified and. through his many
contracts throughout the country dur
ing the last campaign. has a compre.
hensive view of the political scene and
the Republican organization in partic.
ular.
Challenge Seen.
The election of 1854, when one third
OF the Senate and the entire member
ship OF the House will be chosen, offers
challenge-particularly in view of the
narrow margin of Republican control in
both houses. 1t will be the task Of the
national committee to keep the party
members on their toes and not let
them slip into complacent and con-
tented state of inertia. So it is ex-
pected that plans for expansion of
various departments Of the national
committee will be considered et sre
coming meeting. 49,
The committee, too, will be expected
to act as clearing house for appli-
cants for Federal jobs-and as such to
keep in touch with the Republican
leaders in all the States. Further, the
results of the 1852 elections appear to
give the G. o. P. a better chance to
nulld tWo-party system in the South
than since the Civil War. 1t will be
strange if this fact is overlooked in
the coming meeting. In some quarters
1t has been predicted that the South
erners who left the Democratic ma
tional candidate, Stevenson, in large
numbers to vote for Eisenhower, will
quickly slide back into the Democratic
Party fold. Many of them will. But the
chances are that others will stick, and
be willing to vote Republican ,again.
especially II the Eisenhower admins
tration makes good.
With 156 members-larger than ever
before-the Republican National Com
mlttee will take on the semblance of
a national convention. Under the rule
adopted at the last G. o. P. national
convention. Republican State chairmen.
IN States which are carried by the
party's candidate for President. for
Governor. Senator or q majority of the
House delegation. automatically become
members OF the national committee.
This has added 40 members-39 State
chairmen and the State chairman Of
Hawaii. Also, a very considerable num-
Der OF new members of the national
committee were elected at the time of
the national convention-and veteran
members were retired, either vollln-
tarily or because of failure to be re-
elected.
No Taft Revolt.
Last year, the committee was split
into Taft and Eisenhower factions
with the Taft faction in the saddle.
How strongly it was. was developed at
the Chicago national convention in the
contested-delegate cases. It is reported
now, however, that the Taft members Of
the committee who still remain-some
of them were not re-elected-are not
planning a revolt against the selection
of an Eisenhower man, Mr.. Roberts, for
the Craftsmanship. With Eisenhower in
the drivers seat and so many changes
in the committee membership. there
would be small chance of success, even
If such revolt materialized.
Another change in the officials of the
national committee, now expected, Is
the retirement Of Mrs. Roy F. Priest of
Utah. assistant to the chairman. Mrs.
Priest is to be appointed Treasurer Of
the United States. Miss Bertha S. Ad-
kins of Maryland, who has been head
OF the Women's Division Of the COM
mittee, Is expected to succeed Mrs.
Priest as assistant to the chairman.