Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-12-15
Kenney May Quit
As Chairman of
District Democrats
Leader Silent
On Report He
Will Resign
BY CHARLES d. PIERCE
Star Staff Writer

W. John Kenney, chairman
Of the District Democratic Gen.
trail Committee, is considering
bowling out as leader of the
city's Democrats.
Several well-informed sources
said yesterday that they have
heard reports that Mr.. Kenney
is preparing to step down from
his chairmans post.
Mr.. Kenney himself declined
to make any comment on the
reports on the grounds that it
would not be appropriate for
him to discuss a decision in.
volving politics during the Pc
Rod Of national mourning for
the late President Kennedy.
One point not Immediately
clear is whether Mr.. Kenney is
considering resigning in the
near future or whether he will
continue as party leader until
the May 5 primary election.
Seeks Younger Man
While some members of the
central committee have strongly
urged Mr.. Kenney to stay on,
he repeatedly feels 1t is time for
a younger man to assume the
leadership.
But a group Of insurgents in
the Democratic Party contend
that Mr.. Kenney, a successful
lawyer, has not been able to
devote sufficient time to his
party post.
Speculation has already be-
gun on who might succeed him.
The party has three vice
chairmen-Joseph Rauh, Mrs.
Todd Duncan and the Rev. E.
Franklin Jackson.
Mr.. Rauh has generally acted
as spokesman for the party in
the absence Of Mr.. Kenney.
Mr.. Rauh and Mr.. Kenney
worked together closely in the
1860 presidential preference
primary campaign here in sup
port Of Senator Humphrey,
Democrat of Minnesota.
Split on Johnson
Both were elected as dele
gates to the 1860 Democratic
National Convention, but they
split over the nomination of
Lyndon B. johnson for vice
president. Mr.. Kenney sup
ported Mr.. johnson while Mr..
Rauh vigorously opposed the
nomination.
This has led to reports that
Mr.. Rauh's political star may
be waning now that Mr.. john
son has become President.
However. a highly placed Of
ficial in the local party notes
that Mr.. Rauh later vigorously
supported the Kennedy-John-
son ticket. The fact that Mr..
Rauh was recently invited to
accompany President johnson
to the funeral services for
former Senator Lehman in New
York was also noted with in
terest by District politicians.
Mr.. Rauh's friends predict
that President johnson is so
eager to capture the liberal
vote that Mr.. Rauh will con-
found his enemies by emery
ing as a more powerful influ-
ence in local politics than be-
fore.
Rauh May Decline
Mr.. Kenney and Mr.. Rauh
generally get along we'll. Mr..
Kenney is known to feel that
Mr.. Rauh has been a loyal
lieutenant in the District party.
However, it is conceivable
that Mr.. Rauh might not want
to take the party Craftsmanship
if Mr.. Kenney resigned before
the May 5 election.
In the event that Mr.. Rauh
decided against seeking the
craftsmanship. he might sup
His suggestions were aimed
mainly at women shoppers.
The women, he said, should
hang on to their purses and
should not carry large amounts
of money on shopping trips.
port for the post Tilford Dud-
ley, his closest ally on the
Democratic Central Committee.
But this could create serious
problems because Mr.. Dudley
has been recommended by the
District party for the job of
| District Commissioner when a
vacancy arises.
A presidential nominee for
Commissioner must be con-
1 firmed by the Senate. The Sem
ate District Committee has in
Dictated on previous appoint
ments that it takes a dim view