Evening star., 1953-11-15
Sprague Resignation
Costs Republicans
A Powerful Leader
By Gould Lincoln

The resignation Of j. Russell
Sprague of New York from the
Republican National Committee
because of his stock owner
ship in the controversial. racket
ridden YonkerS RaceWay-haS
removed from that committee
one of its most influential men,
bers during the last decade. In
addition, Mr.. Sprague was a
member of the executive COM
mittee of the national COM
mittee.
Mr.. Sprague was refreShingly
frank in his letter of resignation.
He made no suggestion he was
retiring because of i'll health, or
that he wished to devote his
whole time to private business.
He said he was getting out be-
cause he knew he had been criti-
cized because of his stock own
ership IN the raceway.
Mr.. Sprague's resignation was
made to relieve the Republican
National Committee of any
future embarrassment that might
arise on account of criticism of
him. Further, it was intended
to relieve the Republican State
organization also of embaraSS-
ment. although Mr.. Sprague has
continued to retain his leader
ship in Nassau County.
Concerned Over Wicks.
New York Republicans already
were gravely exercised over the
case of State Senator Arthur H.
Wicks. acting lieutenant gov
ernor as president of the State
Senate. MI. WickS was revealed
as a frequent visitor of Joey"
Fay, labor racketeer and extor-
zionist serving time in Sing Sing.
Gov. Dewey has demanded Mr..
Wicks resignation as president
OF the Senate. Mr.. Wicks is
fighting back. The Republican
State Committee has condemned
Mr.. Wicks and his case will come
up at special meeting of the
State legislature November II.
Mr.. Sprague, who made it
clear in his letter of resignation
that he believed Mr.. Wicks
should quit as president of the
Senate or be ousted. if necessary,
was clearly trying to help put
the Republican party in New
York in better fighting position
for the gubernatorial and con-
gressional campaigns next year.
New York, under the leadership
OF Gov. Dewey, turned from
Democratic control to Republi-
can during the last dozen years.
Mr. Sprague does not wish to
Jeopardize that control. Gov. /
Dewey does not intend to run
for a fourth term as governor
next year. 1t became necessary,
therefore. not only to find
strong G. o. P. candidate for
governor but to build up an i'm
pregnable Republican State or
ganization.
Gov. Dewey urged Mr.. Sprague
to reconsider his decision to re-
sign, and declared his full con-
fldence in his integrity. Mr..
Sprague. however, stuck to his
resignation.
No Wrong Doing Involved.
No comment on the Sprague
resignation has come from Re-
publican National Chairman
Leonard w. Hall, or from COM
mittee headquarters here. Chair
man Hall former Representative
from New York. was in Topeka, |
Kan. when Mi. Sprague's resig-
nation was called to his atten-
ton.
1t is clear that Republican
leadership in the Eisenhower /
administration is intent on party |
organization against which no
suggestion of unethical practices
in any shape or form-can be
lodged. Although Mr.. Sprague /
has pointed out he has done no
wrong, he has thought it best
to take himself out of the ma |
tiOnal picture.
MI. Sprague's resignation au-
tomatically eliminates him as ex-
offlcio member of the Republican
State Executive Committee. He |
has been strong and able Re-
publican leader in the State for .
years. He became Republican
national committeeman in 1910,
the first time that Gov. Dewey
sought the Republican nomina-
ton for President. Ever since,
Mr. Sprague supported Gov.
Dewey, in his campaign for Pres
ident and for governor.
He was elected Nassau County |
Republican leader in July 1885. |
He put into effect a program !