Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-04-11
The Political Mill
The Political Mil
Republicans Fortunate
In Getting Judge Hall .
His Political Experience
Needed in 1854 Campaign
By Gould Lincoln


The Republicans are fortunate in the
choice of their new national chairman,
Leonard w. Hall of New York. In addi-
ton to being man Of ability. Chair
man Hall has had wide experience in
politics, and that includes national
politics as we'll as State, county and
local. Through his service as chairman
of the Republican Congressional Com
mittee for several years, he is familiar
with the problems which every Repub-
hcan candidate for Congress will face
next year-and his big job will be to
elect a Republican House and Senate.
Another thing, people like Len Hall, and
that's big part of the battle any
leader has to face.
Mr.. Hall is an Easterner-and sue
ceeds c. Wesley Roberts from Midwest
Kansas. He had the backing of Gov.
Dewey and the whole Republican State
organization OF New York. He wears no
factional label, however. He's delighted.
he told the national committee while
accepting his new job, to be back on
the Eisenhower team" At the same
time. he spoke in high praise of Senator
Taft of Ohio, Republican leader of the
Senate, and of Speaker Joe Martin.
If Chairman Hall has his way, there
will be no factions in the Republican
Party. In this he is following the line
of President Eisenhower himself. The
President told the party's national
committee that there's no longer room
in the Republican Party for "Eisen-
hover Republicans or any other kind
of Republicans: there must be complete
tiOY1 nf oil Pnnuhlinonc
Democrats Wedge.
This is not what the Democrats
want. Before MI. Hall was elected
chairman, the Democratic National
Committee had issued a statement
seeking to show that Hall had voted
numerous times in the House in oppo-
sition to publicly stated views of Presi-
dent Eisenhower. Of course, this was
before Eisenhower was President-or
even nominated for President. A
wedge of this kind. if it could be driven
between the President and the new Re-
publican national chairman. might be
effective. The Democrats overlook,
however, that Mr.. Hall is the Presi-
dents own choice for national chair
man.
Further they seem to have forgotten
that Mr.. Hall worked hard for the elec-
ton of President Eisenhower and had
charge o. his campaign train last fall.
And as q matter of fact, Mr.. Hall voted
far more often, while in the House, in
support of measures that go along with
the Eisenhower thinking than did most
of his Republican colleagues. This is
particularly true in the matter of for
eign policy.
Universally Approved.
Rarely has any chairman of the Re-
publican National Committee been so
universally approved by his party men,
bers for the Craftsmanship. His is a
big name already in politics. He doesn't
have to be instructed in any field Of
the great game. He has youth-he is
only Sand energy and know how"
He is being given free hand in dealing
with the national organization and it's
staff. He will need able assistants
and he will seek them. He is fortunate
in the fact that in the conduct of the
coming congressional campaign, his
Job will not be complicated by preSi-
Dental ambitions for 1856. President
Eisenhower undoubtedly will be the
party nominee for a second term
unless he himself should determine not
to run again. The President has given
no indication he will not be a candi-
date-and his many friends will insist
on his running.
Mr.. Halls hope was to retire from
active politics-he was elected surro-
gate judge in his home county, Nassau.
last year, declining to seek an eighth
term in the House. which he could have
had. After only three months on the
bench, he is back in the thick of the
political battle now building up. Ger
tainly his acceptance of the national
Craftsmanship is evidence of strong
feeling for Eisenhower and for the
Republican Party. He is not taking any
salary as chairman-but will continue
his law practice in his home county,
which does not impinge in any way on
Washington and the Federal Govern
ment. And he has given up salary Of
some $50, 900 to do this.