Huston Triumphant

After weeks of agitation and uncertainty eight potent officers of the Republican Party met Claudius Hart Huston, chairman of the Republican National Committee, at Washington headquarters last week. They were determined to wrestle him out of his job. Chairman Huston, calm and cool in white flannels, talked blandly, smiled disarmingly upon them from the head of a long shiny table. There was no wrestling. The eight potent Republicans departed, looking more sheepish than elephantine. Mr. Huston was still mahout. He might resign after the treaty session of the Senate--or he might not. The issue was as unsettled as ever.

Party opposition to Chairman Huston's tenure of office developed four months ago when the Senate Lobby Committee revealed that Mr. Huston had made temporary use of funds contributed to the Tennessee River Improvement Association for Muscle Shoals lobbying to support his own stock margin account in Wall Street (TIME, March 31). Republicans were less concerned about the personal ethics of Mr. Huston's lobbying activities than they were about the possible effect of his financial transactions upon contributions to the party campaign fund this year. It was broadly stated that wealthy citizens would not play "fat cat" for the Republican cause so long as their cash would be handled under the direction of Chairman Huston. Joseph Randolph Nutt of Cleveland, treasurer of the Republican National Committee, logically the first to feel the financial pinch, took the lead to get Mr. Huston out of office. The Young Guard in the Senate loudly called for his resignation. President Hoover, reluctant to intervene directly by a point-blank demand for the retirement of his old friend and political aide, nevertheless sided with those who wanted to see him go.

But Chairman Huston had no intention of going. He grew obstinate and defiant, insisted he would never "quit under fire." He proceeded to make long range plans for the fall campaign. President Hoover fortnight ago told him to his face that party sentiment demanded his retirement, but hesitated to ask for his resignation, lest Mr. Huston stubbornly refuse to give it and force a public issue with the White House.

Last week's meeting at G. 0. P. Headquarters was heralded in advance as a "show down" on the chairmanship, though Mr. Huston had technically summoned it to discuss campaign plans. Those present included Vice Chairman Pomeroy, Treasurer Nutt, General Counsel Burke, Congressman Will Wood, chairman of the Congressional Campaign Committee, two members of the Republican Executive Committee. They had no authority to oust the chairman, but were primed to force the issue.

Doors were shut and locked. Each man took an oath of secrecy. Before anybody else could mention it, Mr. Huston himself brought up the matter of the. chairmanship. He explained that it would be wise to postpone the whole question until after adjournment of the special Senate session, lest Democrats use that chamber as a forum to discuss Republican party affairs. He lulled his critics into such a peaceful mood, that not one of them dared demand his resignation. They were left under the impression--nothing more substantial-- that he would probably get out later on.

The doors were thrown open and Chairman Huston, complete master of the situation, faced newshawks. A mimeographed statement was passed around in which Mr. Huston asked himself: "Was the chairmanship matter discussed?" and replied: "Certainly the matter of the Chairmanship was discussed but what I have to say on that subject will be withheld until after the adjournment of the Senate."

To hush the talk that Republicans would not contribute party funds, the chairman's statement declared that Treasurer Nutt "reported that satisfactory progress was being made to insure the proper needs of campaign committees and his organization would continue with the work until sufficient money had been pledged."

Washington thereafter brimmed with rumor. Bets were even that the chairmanship would be vacant by Aug. 1. Many believed it would still require a public demand from President Hoover to get Mr. Huston out. Speculators selected Senator Simeon Davison Fess of Ohio as his probable successor. To avoid a public explosion on the eve of an important campaign. Republican leaders strove to get the whole unpleasant to-do out of the headlines.

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