Evening star., 1963-04-28
Democrats
To Push for
Big D. {. Vote
6. O. P. to Stress
Issues, Howard
PorIey Is Told
BY CLARENCE HUNTER
Star Staff Writer

MluuAO CldoS AdIlllhCS dIlu
poor people" will win for the
District Democrats in the 1864
presidential election, q top
Democratic Party official said
yesterday. But a Republican
spokesman urged that the elec-
ton be on issues rather than
party labels.
Our whole effort is being
put forth to turn out q high
vote that Is the only thing
we care about" Joseph Rauh,
vice chairman Of the District
Democratic Committee, told q
group Of students attending
the spring Regional Conference
on Politics at Howard Uni
versity.
President Kennedy will take
care Of us on the issues. &.
He is our issue. We only
have the vote problem" Mr..
Rauh said. He added that "Pres-
ident Kennedy Is like o warm
blanket on a cold night" when
it comes to the problem Of
political issues with the Re-
publicans.
Organization Emphasis
District Democrats are put
ting their major emphasis on
the building Of q strong pre-
cinct organization. The party
believes that "a large vote is
most important because it will
be a Democratic landslide" Mr..
Rauh said.
Carl L. Shipley, chairman of
the District Republican Com
mittee, viewed things differ
emily. He urged the students
to help develop the two-party
political system by participat-
ing in politics and acting on
the issues and candidates lath-
er than on party labels.
Mr.. Shipley claimed that the
Districts per capita income Of
$500 a year is "a Republican
advantage" He also argued
that the Districts concentra-
ton Of more highly educated
people and the fact that the
District is 400 per cent urban
lied" will benefit the COP.
Hits Commissioners
Mr.. Shipley said there will
be a low voter participation in
1864 because the Hatch Act and
other considerations will dis
courage q great number Of some
100000 Government employees
from taking active parts in the
campaign. There are 100000
persons Of voting age in the
District. he said. Mr.. Shipley
agreed with Mr.. Rauh that
President Kennedy will be the
Districts 1864 political issue.
The Republican Party, Mr..
Shipley claimed, "is a very
liberal political organization" /"
while the Democrats are very
middle Of the road" He criti-
cized the District Commission
ers. Democratic appointees, as
mot being very liberal" because
they can make I'D their
minds" on such issues as chang
ing the Mallory Rule, urban
renewal and fair housing. :
Joe Rauh Is very liberal. &.
There is not very much differ
ence between us on many issues,
really" Mr.. Shipley remarked.
Needs High Priority
Mr.. Rauh. however. described
the Democrats as "a largely
liberal" organization. District
residents, he said, will vote for
the Democrats because they
believe in the President and
the party"
Representative Staebler.
Democrat Of Michigan. told the
conferences luncheon meeting
that political parties have to be
taken more seriously and that
citizens have TO give a higher
priority TO politics.
The day-long conference was
sponsored by the National Capt.
tai Area Center for Education
in Politics. In attendance were
more than 100 students and
teachers representing 35 coll
leges In Delaware. Maryland,
Virginia and the District.
They participated in two gen.
eral sessions and IL separate
panel groups TO hear speakers
and TO discuss the conference
theme. New Voters and Old
Patterns Of Control"