The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1953-04-15
THE WORLD
TODAY
BY JAMES MARION

WASHINGTON - - Tall, bald,
81, and with an untimid chin, Leo
nard w. Hall is the Republican
version of Jim Farley: q big glad
handler.
When everybody was mad at
almost everybody else in the Re-
publican convention last July, Hall
paraded contentedly behind an
diversified button which said: 81
like everybody"
This is an attitude whose dura-
bility should be Iavishly tested in
the next two years. It paid divi-
dends last week when all factions
Of the COP conducted an appar-
emily peaceful election of Hall as
chairman Of their national commit
tee.
The poetic license he employed
at the moment of his election
Eve must man the dikes for Ike
in '54''-was intended to show from
the start that MS eyes were on
the ball. his feet on the ground,
and his heart In the right place.
In this case the ball is the 1854
congressional election which the
Republicans ache to win. The mar
gin of their present majority could
hardly be simmer: a majority Of
one in the 96-man Senate and sew
en- out of 4S5 House members.
Hall win be chief oiIer of the
party machinery. Besides raising
funds and trying to get government
jobs for Republicans who have
been waiting 20 years for them,
he must deal with, inspire, lead,
advise and pacify, not only other
members of the national commit
tee-146 in all--but Republican
governors, mayors, various local
big shots and, Republican groups.
Since the national committee
made up Of men and women cho-
sen by Republicans back home in
all the states and territories--usu-
ally meets no more than twice
year, Hall viii have to depend day
by day on the help Of perhaps $50
paid staff workers 10 the commit
tees six-story headquarters here.
Staff work ranges from research
and sending speakers to Republi-
can dinners and doings around the
u. s. to publicity which blows the
horn for republican accomplish
ment, tries to win friends and to
give the Democrats miseries.
The research staff, for instance,
is still busy analyzing the 1852
election results showing why Re-
pubIicans won or lost where they
did. This information is for the
help Of Republican politicians in
general and state committee chair
men in particular.
A special committee helps Hall
raise party funds and, in a sep
arate building, Hall win have q
staff filling and trying to fill the
job applications from Republicans
everywhere who think it's only
right they should get government
job. ssNB
Hall Is q political pro. He served
seven terms in the House and has
just given up a s25,0 year Job
as a New York surrogate Judge
Of wills--to take ever the chair
manship for which his predeces-
sor, c. Wesley Roberts, got So, 500. .
Hall says he'll practice law on the
side. he says, but not in govern
ment cases
Since President Eisenhower, the
nominal head Of the party, will
spend most Of his time running
the government. Hail win have TO
run the committee and the party
organization. All his efforts win be
for nothing, Of course, if the Eli
senhower administration has failed
10 impress the customers b. next
election day.
Jim Farley. who has become
kind Of political legend as a wizard
when he was chairman Of the Dem
ocratic National Committee under
President Roosevelt. might have
had q quick and sad end II Roose-
welt had been unable 10 convince
the voters that he bad what they
wanted.