A FISH STORY

The attacks on the leadership of John Hamilton, Chairman of the Republican National Committee, by Hamilton Fish, have been for the most part unfair. Mr. Fish has made several abortive attempts to appear the liberal leader of the Republican party, but considering his past record these grandstand plays are absurd. The blame for the Republican defeat cannot be placed on any one man; especially not on Mr. Hamilton. Up to date, no one in the party has shown the vigor, and hard hitting speaking ability of the present chairman, and the Republicans would be taking an unwise step if they accept his resignation.

The vote given Roosevelt makes it obvious that no opposition campaign manager could have won the election. Mr. Hamilton suddenly found himself faced with the task of mobilizing the forces of a major party in four months. Except in state and local governments he could not rely on patronage, as Mr. Farley could. Nor did he have a well greased machine of relief workers, AAA check recipients, and thousands of others receiving financial benefits from the government. Hamilton has great odds to figlit against, and he did the best he could under adverse circumstances.

Fish in correct in saying that Mr. Hamilton was wrong when he attacked the social security tax on employees, and when he charged the New Deal with being Communistic. But on May 1, 1935, in a New York radio speech, Fish himself declared that Roosevelt had "within 6 months. . brought to Washington a lot of radicals, Socialists, or near Communists." In short, he is condemning Hamilton for doing the same thing that he did himself.

The attacks on the national chairman have come almost entirely from Representative Fish, whose past record makes his charges look like an about face and cheap opportunism. Hamilton has more energy and organizing ability than any other recent chairman. His speeches were forceful, clear, and had the necessary punch to carry a point. Unless some dark horse, with superhuman ability, should make his appearance, the Republicans should be grateful for the aggressive leadership of John Hamilton.