Evening star., 1932-02-14
Wits
PARTY PLEDGE BAN
Shouse Plan Viii! Enable
Leaders to Dictate, He
Contends.
BY BYRON PRICE.

D1 DI NUN fhICE.
Copyright. 1882, by the Associated Press)
ALBANY, N. Y, February 13.-Goy.
Franklin d. Roosevelt, whose presiden-
tial aspirations now stand at the center
OF q furiously developing Democratic
controversy, said today that the rank
and file of the party, and not a process
OF trade and barter" by handful OF
leaders. should determine who is to be
the nominee.
Discussing directly the hotIy disputed
question whether instructed or unin-
structed delegates should be sent to
tne convention, the Governor declared
the proposal to avoid prior pledges to
candidates would "nulliTy and destroy
fundamental principle of the party.
He did not directly mention his own
candidacy, now facing in many States
the challenge of an opposition which
argues 1t would be unwise to foreclose
the nomination in advance He replied
by name to only one of those who have
presented such a view-Jouett Shouse,
chairman Of the Democratic Nat\nal
Executive Committee.
Farley Still at Helm.
Il am sure Mr. Shouse could tave
Z,
ernor, Tor proposing a plan Wlf.h if
carried GU: would disfrancnise the great
body Of Democratic voters"
Touching briefly on one feature of
the campaign i'll his behalf. Mr.. Roose-
velt made 1t clear that while he has
appointed no campaign manager, he
has not changed the arrangement by
which James A. Farley alone acts as a
liaison and clearing house for the
Roosevelt movement everywhere.
All OF these statements were made
during talk with the Associated Press
correspondent in the study of the his
tOric executive mansion, home of long
line Of New York Governors. He sat
leaning back in an easy chair, behind
an almost miniature mahogany desk. a
copy Of Jefersons at Monticello. He
spoke quietly and without any show of
bitterness.
When he was asked directly for his
views on the no-pledge proposal, most
conspicuously espoused recently by
Chairman Shouse, he looked steadily
out of the window for a moment, and
drummed lightly with his inger-tips On
the table. Then he said:
Appreciates Sbouse's Work.
while every good Democrat is ap-
pTeClallbt Oh The "OIk
which my friend Jouett Shouse has
conducted in Washington at Democratic
headquarters during the past three
years, his suggestion that all delegations
go to the National Convention unin-
structed is. unfortunately, contrary to
the principles of the party and the in
tent Of the laws and party rules of
almost every State
More than a generation ago there
existed widespread dlsapproval of the
kind OF national convention which b.
came merely a trading post for a hand
full Of powerful leaders and where the
nomination itself had nothing to do
with the popular choice OF the rank and
file Of the party itself.
AS a result and in keeping with the
historic traditions Of the parry, primary
laws and party rules were enacted in
practically every State for the purpose
of permitting the party voters them
selves to express a choice for candi-
dates.
Mr.. Shouse's suggestion would nullify
and destroy this fundamental principle
The rank and file of the party should
be heard.
II am sure that Mr.. Shouse on sec
ond thought will recognize the unsourc-
ness Of and party damage in his sug-
gestion.
Sees Best Intentions.
IT am sure Mr. Shouse could have
had no ulter;or motive for proposing
plan which If carried out would dis
franchise the great body Of Democratic
voters throughout the 48 States and
would enable a handful Of individuals to
hand-pick a candidate for the great Of
fee of President by process OF trace
and barter"
For the most part. the Governor
punctuated his words only with short
pauses, accompanied each time by a
questioning glance at the listener. Later,
AS he talked of other things, he fol-
lowed a statement now and then with
such glance, accompanied by sharply
infected one-word inquiry, "Right?"
He did not discuss issues, but he did
answer questions as to the physical or
ganization Of his campaign. which ac-
knowledges no national headquarters
and no chairman"
The Governor made it perfectly clear
that there is not. even a campaign
manager; that his friends are taking
an active lead in expressing what they
say is a definite and clear popular SEN
timent for him in the several States"
Farley in Washington.
He made it clear likewise that the
only person who is acting as national
liaison officer for the whole movement is
Farley, who also is the chairman of the
New York State Democratic Committee.
Farley is keeping in constant and ac-
tive touch with the Governors friends
in every part of the country and with
the results of their conferences.