Evening star., 1932-02-23
JAMES A. REED
CALLS ON GARNER
Former Senator Denies They
Discussed Presidential
Politics.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

Former Senator James A. Reed of
Missouri, who has expressed a desire to
have the Missouri delegation support
him for President in the Democratic
national convention, spent a half hour
talking with Speaker Garner at the
Speakers Office in the Capitol today.
When Senator Reed left the Speak
er's Office he said that his call had been
purely social and that there had been
no discussion Of presidential politics be-
tween himself and the Speaker.
The veteran Democratic leader from
Missouri declined to discuss any of the
candidates for the Democratic presi-
Dental nomination or their chances
That went for Speaker Garner as well
as the rest.
Expects Missouri Vote.
There's no secret about my owr
position" said Senator Reed. II have
said that I would like to have the sup
port of the Missouri delegation at the
Democratic national convention. And,
he added, II expect I'll get it.
Somebody" continued Mr.. Reed
representing America and American
politics should be nominated for Pres
ident this year. We should not nomi-
nate any one who would be inclined
to embroil us in a conflict between the
yellow races in the Far East. There
Is great deal of fireworks expended
over the celebration of the Bicentenniaj
Of George Washington, but we heard
very little about George Washington s
foreign policies.
When our State Department calls on
the League of Nations 10 use ali possible
pressure against Japan 1t seems to me
time to call halt. That pressure would
include the economic boycott. II they
had taken us at our word we might
have been permitted to go ahead with
the League of Nations even to the ex-
tent OF making war to put down an Of
tending nation, and once we had taken
such a step we might have been called
on to take action against the English
or against Russia or France in connec-
ton with the rights claimed by those
countries in China. No human being
could prophesy what the end of such q
cause might have been.
Assails Boycott Proposal
I'VE should nominate for President
somebody who would quit thinking about
Strengthening out the troubles # all the
rest Of the world.
Il saw in the newspapers the other
day proposal by some gentleman that
the United States join with the League
OF Nations to boycott Japan. Whether
those gentlemen knew it or not, a boy
colt amounts to an act Of war and
would be so regarded. and would un-
doubtedly involve US in war All this
is regardless of the effect on our trade
and commerce Of such boycott"
Former Secretary of War Newton D.
Baker of Ohio. who has been prominently
mentioned as a presidential possibility
on the Democratic side, was one of
those signing a petition to President
Hoover urging that the United States
act with the League of Nations II a
boycott were established against Japan.
Senator Reed declined to discuss Mr..
Baker however. saying that he would
not talk about individual candidates
The best thing to do," Senator Reed
said sis to do what old George Wash
mgton did about foreign affairs"
The former Missouri Senator during
his long service in the Senate was a
strong opponent of Americas entry into
the League of Nations. He was also
bitterly opposed to national prohibi-
ton. He said today in connection with
the prohibition issue:
1T is time that this country should
be getting some revenue and at least
part of the profits which go to the
bootleggers."
Senator Reed said that he was here
for several days On business connected
with his law Office