Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-06-16
BY MARK SULLIVAN.

Republicans meet the second week in
June, the Democrats in the fourth
week. There are suggestions that
next year the Republicans should wait
until after the Democrats meet. Meet
ing subsequent to the Democrats would
have some advantage for the Repub-
licans. Also there Is some logic in
having the party in power meet first
and the "outs" follow. The prac-
tice, however, for more than 80 years,
has been that the Republicans,
whether in power or out, meet first.
The Democrats, whether in or out,
meet later. There is no reason why
next year the Republicans should not
wait, If they see fit.
With the Republican convention q
year away, the forces and moves that
will determine their presidential nomi-
nation are under way. Partly by the
natural happening of events, partly by
the design of men ambitious to be
presidential nominees and other men
ambitious to be President makers, and
partly through other forces, not omit
ting the force of inertia-through all
these, the process that will determine
the Republican presidential nomina-
ton are under way and will continue
with accommodating momentum.
Democrats Mentioned.
A novel feature has. been introduced
into the present situation by the sug-
gestion that the Republicans should
select as the presidential nominee
some one Of the several distinguished
Democrats who are conspicuous for
their criticism of the present Demo
cratic administration.
The suggestion that the Republicans
give their presidential nomination to
a Democrat has met with much favor
from conservatives in both parties and
from independent voters. But any re-
port of existing facts, such as the
present aims to be, is obliged TO say
there is no great likelihood of the Re
publican presidential nomination be-
ing given to any Democrat. Objec-
ton is made by active party leaders,
both Republican leaders and conserva-
tive Democratic leaders.
The objection can be explained in
q way as to carry understanding to
readers not familiar with party organ
ization In every State, county and
city next year there will be, in ad-
dition to the presidential campaign,
local campaigns for local ofiices. These
local candidates, and the local party
organizations fear confusion. For ex-
ample, in Virginia next year there will
be contests for local of1ces, with Re-
publican and Democratic nominees
for each. II, now, o Virginia Demo-
crat should accept the Republican
nomination for President, what would
be the effect on the local Democratic
ticket in Virginia? Would his action
be interpreted as an invitation to all
the Democratic voters in the State to
vote the Republican ticket, not only
for President, but for all the local
offices?
Commissions of that kind in every
State raise objections by local leaders
of both parties to a coalition ticket
Since the local leaders and the Local
party organizations have so much
power in determining party action
it Is necessary to say that nomination
Of a Democrat by the Republicans
seems improbable. However desirable
1t does not, at this stage, seem likely
Many conservative Democrats who arr
most earnest in their conviction tina
the Roosevelt administration is no
truly Democratic, and most willinE
to prevent Mr.. Roosevelt from beinl
reelected, are nevertheless unwilling
to give countenance tc coalition
ticket. They all want to preserve theil
separate State and local party organi.
nations, and they fear that a coalition
ticket for President and Vice Presi.
dent would be too confusing and dis.
rupting.
Have Two Possibilities.
These anti Roosevelt Democrat.
must do something. One possibility
would be an independent ticket. made
up of conservative Democrats. At Least
this possibility is greater than that
Of a coalition ticket of Republican,
and Democrats.
There is yet one other possibility
'conceiveably, the conservative Demo
Gratis might, at once or soon. or wher
Congress meets again next January
conceivsbly the conservative Demo.
Gratis might take hold Of the party ant
require Mr.. Roosevelt to follow truly
Democratic course. This could be done
Half a dozen conservative Demo
cratic leaders in the Senate and hall
a dozen in the House, exercising theil
leadership on Democratic Senators
and members who would be glad Il
follow them, could readily require MIR
Roosevelt to follow a Democratic
course. The conservative Democrat!
feel that so far Mr.. Roosevelt has beer
influenced by persons who are no
Democrats, but are, as the conserva.
tive Democrats feel in their more ir.
ritated moments, mavericks Of sons
pink variety. 1t Is a fact that those
who most influence the President arr
not Democrats, nor do they belong tt
any other political classification IA
miliak to Americans. The conservative
Democratic leaders in Senate anc
11OuoC OOOh0 anu AlAdys SdOob1 OAACAA1'
selves as the advisers who determine
party policy.
Coalition Unlikely.
Whatever the conservative Demo.
Gratis may do, whether they effect 9
change In the course Of the party anc
require Mr.. Roosevelt's leadership tt
be satisfactory to them, or whether in
the lack of that they have an indie
pendent ticket next year. in any event
regardless of how desirable a coalition
ticket of Republicans and conservative
Democrats might be, it seems now
improbable that there will be one.
Assuming that the Republicans mex
year make their presidential nomina-
ton from their own ranks In the usual
way, there are two groups of posi-
bilities from whom they may select.
Every one would concede that there
are four or i've men who. because OF
experience or for other reasons, COM
pose q class apart. They are ex-Presi-
dent Hoover, two or three justices In
the Supreme Court who before theiI
elevation to the bench were Republican
in politics, and Mr.. Ogden Mills, who
in Mr.. Hoover's administration wa
Secretary OF the Treasury and before