Evening star., 1961-01-07
0. P. Moves
ToStrengtherl
Party for 1862
BY DAVID S. BRODER
Star star Writer

~ OAN4D Cs ONODGn
Star Stan Writer
Republican Party leaders to-
day launched four-point pro-
gram aimed at strengthening
the G. o. P. for the 1862 con-
gressional races.
AS the two-day meeting Of
the Republican National Com
mittee headed for a close at
the Sheraton-Park Hotel,
Chairman Thruston B. Morton
named special task forces to
study ways of improving Re-
publican organizations in big
of registering more vot-
ers, of maintaining security"
on vote-counts and of improv-
ing State election laws.
The four studies are focused
on factors party chiefs blame
for Vice President Nixon's close
defeat in the 1860 presidential
race.
Ray C. Bliss, the Republican
chairman Of Ohio, one of the
few big industrial States that
went into the Nixon column, d.
will head the study Of big city
organizations. President-elect
Kennedy swept virtually all the
big Northern cities in 1860.
Security Measures Sought
Bernard M. Stanley of New
Jersey. former White House ap-
pointments secretary. heads the
group that will recommend bet
ter precinct security" meas
ures for election day. Republic
cans have charged that fraud
and error in voting and vote
counting cost them the electoral
votes of Illinois and, possibly,
other States.
Mrs. lone F. Harrington of
Indiana will head the voter
registration study. Democrats,
with union help, carried out
registration drives in a dozen
or more key States in 1860
efforts which the Republicans
were unable to match.
Harley B. Markham of Idaho
is the chairman of a committee
to develop a model State elec-
tion law. In 1860, Republicans
found quirks Of the law in Illi-
nois and Texas, among others,
blocked their efforts for re-
counts.
While plotting these moves
for recovery, the Republican
leaders from the so States made
strenuous efforts to preserve an
appearance of party harmony.
New York Criticized
The fabric of unity was
strained a bit yesterday after
noon when Senator Goldwater
of Arizona, spokesman for con-
Servative forces, criticized the
election performance in New
York, which he said was the
lone State in all of the United
States where we lost heavily all
along the line"
Senator Goldwater appeared
to aim his shaft directly at
Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller Of
New York by declaring that
the setback occurred despite
the fact that the rank-and-
file Republican organization of
this State fought with deter
mination and skill"
He did not name the New
York Governor, who figures
Speculatively as a possible rival
of the Senator's and Vice Presi-
dent Nixon's for the 1864
nomination, in his attack. But
in an apparent reference to
Gov. Rockefeller's frequent dis
sents from the administration
policy. Senator Goldwater said,
I'VE will not gloss over any at
tempts which ambitious men
make to tear down, as an aid
to their own careers, President
Eisenhower, Vice P re sident
Nixon or any other man of
stature within the party"
The Vice President enter
tanned members of the COM
mittee last night at Columbia
Country Club. Mr.. Eisenhower
was their guest at lunch yester-
day. mingling and chatting
with the party leaders for half
an hour before he delivered his
farewell talk"
In it. the President told Re-
publicans that mo matter how
hard we've worked, we can still
do better" He recalled the
G. o. P. had suffered four
straight defeats in congress
sional elections and snapped.
We'll have no more of it."
When he was a boy, the
President said, athletic coaches
told him he had to be a good
sport about losing. That's
true" he said, "but I never had
a coach tell me you've got to
get used to it."
In other developments yes
terday, Senator Morton agreed
to remain as head of the ma
tional committee through this
session Of Congress and plans
were made for him to meet
weekly with the Republican
leaders Of the Senate and
House to thresh out policy
matters.