Evening star., 1954-11-21
Democrats Narrow
|ChairnlansllipR Race
10 3Major Choices
BY Gould Lincoln

C0IuMlbCeC---W1llC Lie PI6SGIL
chairman, Stephen Mitchell, will
vacate December 4 at a commit
tee meeting in New Orleans--is
narrowing down, it is said, to
three main contestants.
They are James Finnegan.
president Of the City Council Of
Philadelphia: Michael v. Disable.
| former mayor of Toledo. and
former Director of Economic
Sterilization in Washington, and
Paul NJ. Butler. Democratic Ma
Itional Committeeman for Indi-
ana.
Mr.. Butler remains a possibil-
| ity, 1t was, said. Notwithstanding
the opposition to his selection
from Frank Mckinney. q ma
tional chairman during the Tru-
man administration.
| The three candidates and their
friends have begun campaigning
in a. big way. They are by no
means the only potential candi-
dates for the Craftsmanship.
which pays $4,000 a year and
carries with it prestige and po-
llitical power - particularly in
view Of the party victory In the
congressional and gubernatorial
elections November 2.
Should a deadlock arise. with
none of the leaders able to OBJ
tain a majority vote. Archibald
S. Alexander. State treasurer of
New Jersey. and one of the new
Democratic leaders of the State.
may be likely compromise.
Mitchell Returning to Law.
| One thing is certain, Mr..
Mitchell does not intend to con-
tinue as chairman. He insists
that his successor must be elect
ed at the New Orleans meeting.
He is going back to his private
practice of law in Chicago; as a
matter of fact. he went back
there to try a case a few days
ago.
| To facilitate the choice Of a
new chairman, Mr.. Mitchell has
asked committee members for
their views. He has told those
who have said they would place
their proxies in his hands that he
must have their own views on
the candidates, and that he will
vote the proxies as each commit
| tee members desires. He does not
intend to take the responsibility
of saying who shall be chair
man.
Under the Mitchell chairman
ship, the Democratic National
Committee debt of $3.50. .000-at
the close Of the 1852 presidential
race-has been wiped out. All
the obligations of 1852 and 1858
i, been paid. The national
committee has a current deficit
Of only $4,000 which should be
paid in a short time.
D. C. Quota Oversubscribed.
| The night Of the December. 4
Committee meeting In New Or
leans, the Democrats will hold a
r s-2n-r," Guests will be
expected to pay $100 each. The
proceeds, plus the contributions
which are expected from a num-
ber of the States which have not
yet completed their, 1953-54
quotas. will. it is believed. pro-
vide the Committee with a cash
balance. fa
Among the States which have
not completed their quotas by
sizeable sums are New York,
Illinois, Texas. Missouri and
Maryland.
Twenty-Five States had con-
tributed or exceeded their full
quotas as of November Is. Vir-
ginia oversubscribed by more
/ than $4,000, contributing $40.-
OTIS. The District of Columbia
also exceeded its quota, the Dem
ocrats here subscribing $52,252.
Adlai Stevenson, Democratic
presidential candidate in 1852
and present titular head of the
party. will be principal speaker
at the Victory Dinner in New
Orleans. Whether Mr. Steven
son at that time will disclose his
own future political plans is
problematical. It is expected
that he will take a rest from
politics.
Stevenson Stays Clear.
MIR. Stevenson. who selected
Mr.. Mitchell for the Office Of
national chairman, is keeping
out of the selection of a new
| chairman. That seems to be the
attitude of some of the other
1856 presidential possibilities
They believe that the committee
should pick an outstanding man
who would be representative OF
all sections of the country and
not be committed to any poten-
| tial candidate.
In this connection there Is talk
of Thomas K. Finletter of New
York, former Air. Force Secre-
l.tary. and Senator Earle Glenn
ents Of Kentucky. who has been
chairman of the Democratic