Evening star., 1953-05-23
The Political Min
COP. Sets Up Program
To Handle Patronage
National Committee Will Not
Serve as Employment Agency
The Political Min
BY Gould Lincoln

Patronage-spelled with a big p and
meaning Federal jobs-and how to
handle it have been problems for the
Eisenhower administration ever since
the Republicans took over last Janu-
ary. 1t is one of the first that the
new Republican national chairman,
Leonard Hall, has had to tackle. Grad
ually system is being worked out with
the cabinet and agency heads, with
members of the House and Senate and
with the White House. Under the
system, the National Committee is not
expected to function as an employment
agency. 1t will provide employees and
officials, properly cleared politically,
when the committee Is notified by de-
partment and agency heads that per.
sonnel is needed. In addition to polit-
ical clearance, the qualifications Of
the applicants will be considered.
When Chairman Hall took Office,
some 5000 applications were on file
with the National Committee. A large
number of the applications had been
made without any political backing
that is without Endorsement from mem
bers OF Congress, Republican State and
other committees. They represented,
as whole. the demands of thousands
OF Office seekers, cognizant that a new
administration was taking over the
Federal Government and that many
offices held by Democrats were to be
vacated. Mr.. Halls efforts are to bring
order out of chaotic condition.
Committees Set Up.
The recommendations of Senators
and Representatives will, of course, be
weighed. In some of the States, pat
ronage committees have been set up to
make recommendations for appoint
ment to office. On these committees
have been placed representatives of
the State Republican organizations, of
the EiSenhower-for President Clubs and
other party leaders. In several of the
Southern States, the committees have
included representatives of the Demo-
crats-for- Eisenhower who were respon.
sible for the big votes for the Republic
can presidential candidate and who
helped President Eisenhower carry four
Of the States of the solid South"
One Of the considerations which has
been given attention is the need for
holding onto as much as possible Of the
Democratic support which was given
President Eisenhower. Important posts
have already gone to some of
the Democratic supporters of Eisen-
hover. From Texas. for example, have
come the Secretary of Health. Edu-
cation and Welfare, Mrs. Oveta Culp
Hobby, a new cabinet post. and the
Secretary of the Navy. Robert Bernard
Anderson. In Virginia, too, ap-
pointment of Democrats for Eisen-
hover have been made or are in the
process. The Republicans picked up
three Virginia seats in the House in the
elections last November. Whether they
will hold these seats in the 1854 con-
gressional'elections is matter of grave
doubt. The Republican national or
ganiZation is going to do all it can.
however. to give the Democrats who
supported the Republican President
reason to continue that support. The
retention of Republican control of the
House and Senate in the next Congress
is Of paramount Importance to the
President and to the COP. .,
Similar consideration is being given
also to the large number Of so-called
independents who turned in to support
Eisenhower-many of whom were mem
bers of the Eisenhower for President
Clubs-when it comes to matters Of
patronage.
Congress Critical.