Mark Sullivan on Washington

The approaching meeting (at Chicago, June 5) of the Republican National Committee to choose a new chairman, has importance beyond any more matter of party organization. It concerns more than the Republican National Committee. It concerns more than the Republican Party in the sense of the men and women who through conviction and custom adhero to that party. It concerns the whole body of Americans who would like to oppose what is now being done at Washington. Since there is as yet no third party and no non-partisan movement in opposition to the fundamental innovations introduced by the present administration, it follows that apparently the only opportunity of this opposition to express itself will lie in the Republican Party.

No Non-Partisan Opposition

It is a pity if there is to be no organized non-partisan opposition, for the issue presented goes much deeper than any ordinary eleavage between Republicans and Democrats. It runs deeper and also it outs at right angles across both parties. The novel theories of society and government which some aspects of the New Deal introduce to America are more directly counter to Democratic principles and traditions than to Republican.

Nevertheless, as things stand today, the regrettable condition is that there is no present promise of a non-partisan organization or of a third party. In this condition, those who oppose what is being done are forced to look to the Republican Party as the framework through which to express themselves. The great question therefore is whether the Republican Party will live up to an obligation which is wider than the party.

The pertinent facts are that Mr. Everett Sanders, chairman of the National Committee, has resigned. His resignation carries a special implication. Mr. Sanders was the chairman who conducted the campaign to reelect Mr. Hoover in 1932. Previous to that he had been private secretary to President Coolidge. Mr. Sanders, retirement, therefore, is notice that there is no disposition on the part of elements hither to dominant in the party to keep control of the organization. Mr. Sanders' resignation amounts to an announcement of hands off and an open field.

The Republican Party organization is completely available for a function which looks wholly to the future. This is a highly important fact. The office of chairman is open to whatever choice may be made as a result of any one of several processes, whether energy on the part of some individual seeking the office, or agreement upon some candidate by men or groups within the committee or--to name the process that is most desirable--consideration for public need.

Choice by Committee

The choice will be made by the 106 members of the committee, one man and one woman representing each of the 48 states and five dependencies. Under normal conditions, national committees of both parties tend naturally to think of themselves in the spirit of a fraternity. In a way which, from a human standpoint, is rather fine, they sometimes base their preference for chairmen on old loyalties, long personal associations, long service, the spirit of promotion. In the present situation, two of those mentioned as available are men who have been members for more than twenty years.

This kind of qualification is, under the present circumstances, not a qualification at all. It is a handicap. This is true without regard to the personal qualities of these individuals. Neither in personnel nor in principles will the old Republican Party fully satisfy the country's major need. That need is for a "new Republican" party which shall provide a rallying place for all--whether Republicans, Democrats, Independents or what not--who believe in preserving individual liberty, the rights of the states, and the other principles and traditions which in the past have been supported by all parties and which are now under attack at Washington.

The new Republican party should also be the young Republican party--young in the sense of years and mental elasticity. The voters who most need to be assured are the younger ones who merged from school or college during the depression and felt justified discontent with a world that had been managed by their elders.