Salt Lake Telegram | 1941-03-24 | Page 5 | G O Po Committee Keeps Martin as Chairman

G GOP 0 P Committee Keeps Martin as Chairman WASHINGTON March 24 INS INS Against Against his own wishes I Representative Joseph W. W Martin Jr the minority leader of the house Monday agreed to continue as chairman of the Republican can national committee when the committee unanimously rejected his resignation In their first meeting since the presidential election last November November November Novem Novem- ber more than 80 committee members were on hand to discuss the future course of the G 0 O P in m both national and state affairs They supported unanimously a I. I motion by William F. F Knowland member from Oakland Cal Ca to toI I reject Martins Martin's resignation Martin agreed to continue at atthe atthe atthe the helm of the national committee commit commit- tee and urged the party leadership leadership leadership leader leader- ship to view the future with op op- op- op Knowland was named chairman chairman chairman chair chair- man of the committees committee's executive committee succeeding Sinclair Weeks of Massachusetts Weeks was selected as party treasurer Will WUl Name Helper Following the morning session Martin announced that he would name an executive assistant to himself at some future date He added that he will seek appointment appointment appoint appoint- ment meat of eight or nine committees to revitalize the party organization tion for the 1942 congressional campaign Martin in his speech characterized characterized characterized charac charac- the Republican party's role as that of a policeman to prevent the nation from collapsing collapsing ing irig into financial political and social bankruptcy Martin insisted that the Republicans Republicans Republicans have ample cause for op op- op- op He recalled to the committee com corn that Wendell Willkie polled more than votes in November and cited the fact that 20 states have Republican governors There is no reason for Republicans Republicans Republicans to feel discouraged Martil Martin Martin Mar Mar- tin til said Our principal weakness weakness weakness weak weak- ness is in the large cities However However However How How- ever in 38 states the Republicans cans carried 1120 counties and the Democrats If the strength of a party is in the county seats then we indeed are a virile party Opposition Needed He added that in m the present crisis the American people are depending on the minority party party to provide an intelligent constructive constructive constructive con con- and courageous opposition tion Vast and unprecedented power have been given to the executive department of the government I Martin said We stagger along I In the direction of war We are 1 face to face with the possibility of national bankruptcy This picture is not a pleasant one and this is no time for echo men A vigorous courageous I party is essential to police and 1 audit the new deal administration I tion as it revels in m the spending of 30 or 40 billions and in the possession of vast and unparalleled unparalleled unparalleled powers There is of course a genuine need for national unity in our defense plans to make our country country country coun coun- try invincible against any assault But no real American wants unity in any policy or any movement which would destroy the two- two party system of government In America