Evening star., 1953-04-02
The Political Aili
TIE Political MilI
Seasoned Politician
Needed as COP. Chief
SummerfieId Is Among
Candidates Now Mentioned
By Gould Lincoln

SuJUIUSIItelU - AWOHQ
Condidotes Now Mentioned
By Gould Lincoln
President Eisenhower and the Repub-
lican National Committee are face to
face with the selection Of new chair
man Of the committee selection
which presumably will be made when
the committee meets here April 10. At
that time. National Chairman c. Wes-
ley Roberts will formally submit his
resignation. Mr.. Roberts, who was
co-ordinator for the successful Eisen-
hover campaign last fall. announced
his intention to resign last week end,
after Kansas legislative committee
reported he had violated '.in spirit"
the Kansas lobby law when he served
as public relations adviser to an in
fSurance company in the sale of hos
pital building to the State. Some of
his friends in the committee have re-
Sented strongly the attack on Mr..
Roberts, believing, as does Mr.. Roberts,
that 1t grew out of partisan political
conspiracy.
The President, as head Of the party,
is expected to have the final say when
1t comes to picking q national chair.
man. A plethora of potential candi-
dates for the Office is in the ofing. To
whom the President win turn is still a
matter Of conjecture. He has said that
the election of a national chairman was
the duty Of the committee itself-but
1t is certain he will be asked to give
his approval. He may clarity the situa.
tlon at his press conference today.
Kansas Mentioned.
Among those whose names have been
mentioned for the chairmanship are
= Harry Darby Of Kansas, q member of
the committee and former Senator:
former Representative Leonard Hall of
New York, now surrogate Judge; Tom
Coleman Of Wisconsin, who for years
has been a power in the Republican
Party there: Mcintyre FAIRIES, national
committeeman for California; Post
master General Arthur E. Summerfleld
OF Michigan, who was national chair
man and ran the presidential campaign
last year. Mr.. Summerf1eld gave up the
Craftsmanship when he accepted ap-
pointment to the cabinet. Mr.. Roberts
was elected in his place.
Suggestions have been made that a
'big name" chairman be chosen-pre-
Sumably man who has made his
mark in business. If so it would have
to be clear that his concern was not
doing business with the Government,
or he would have to sell his holdings
in his company. Not because of any
law, but because of the proprieties. A
national chairman is not a Federal
hut h0 ba -.
grant or seek favorS for business. This
whole idea was threshed out when Sec
retary Of Defense Wilson and other
Eisenhower appointees were up for con-
firmation by the Senate.
A man with training as a practical
politician will be needed in the ma
tional organization. no matter who the
new chairman may be. He could we'll
be an executive director or campaign
manager taking much of the burden
of the shoulders of the national chair
man. A. B. Hermann of New Jersey was
executive director and campaign man
ager of the Republican National Com.
mittee during the congressional cam
paign of 1850. The Republicans made
big gains in Congress in that election.
and Mr.. Hermann's name has already
been suggested in some quarters for a
similar position in the new organization
OF the committee. He originated the
Young Republican movement in New
Jersey years ago and successfully man.
aged six campaigns for Governor and
Senator in his State, in addition to the
congressional campaign of 1850. He is
widely acquainted with Republican
leaders and workers throughout the
country.
1854 Important.
Republican leaders in Congress rec.
oenize fully the Importance of the 1854
congressional elections They know
that the party in power has almost in.
variably lost congressional seats in
presidential term elections. Their
control of the Senate and House In
the present Congress Is razor thin.
They are pressing for a new national
chairman who is familiar with the
problems of a congressional race. OF
the potential candidates mentioned.
both Harry Darby and Leonard Hall
I'LL the bill in that respect. Possibly
a sitting member Of the House or Sen
ate might be prevailed upon to take
the craftsmanship, as did Representa-
tive Carroll Reece of Tennessee when
he became chairman and ran the sue
cessful campaign Of 1946, with the aid
of Representative Clarence Brown of
Ohio, and elected a Republican Con-
gress. Mr.. Reece was elected chairman
early in April that year. He did not
run for reelection to the House in
November.
There Is considerable sentiment in
favor Of having Postmaster General
Summerfleld resume the national chair
manship. It is argued that he could
hold both Offices, as have other POST
masters General in the past; for ex-
ample. James A. Farley and Frank
Walker in the Franklin D. Roosevelt
administration, and Will Hayes and
Frank Hitchcock in earlier Republican
administrations. Whether President
Eisenhower would assent to such
proposition, however, is another matter.
No contest over the election of q
new chairman is expected. This Is due
to the fact that it is generally recog-
nized a President has the right to name
a chairman of the party'S national
organization. Only in the event Presi-
dent Eisenhower should decline to avail
himself of the privilege might a fight
arise, with two or more candidates in
the field.
Horpers Ferry