The Washington times., 1935-10-10
RUN0R MAKES
D0UGLASG.0.P.
CANDIDATE
By EARL GOODWIN


There seems to be q dark, deep
plot being Matched these days to
launch Lewis Douglas, erstwhile
former Director Of the Budget, as
the first presidential candidate Of
o party-to-be under the name Con-
stitutional Republicans.
Douglas is q Democrat and one
time he said he would not run on
q Republican ticket for anything.
But still the rumor persists that
the new Constitutional Republi-
cans are to be so high-planed ana
apart from all previous political
taint or tincture that the whole
set-up will be brand-new.
The name of Ogden Mills, Secre-
tary of the Treasury under Presi-
dent Hoover, Is today mentioned
as q moving force among those
who would like to see both the
party and the man win. This
much is brand.new: There have
been constant recurrence Of Lewis
Douglas name as q presidential
possibility, but never before has
anyone connected ogden Mills
name with this project. Attempts
to get Mr.. Mills on the telephone
at his New York office have met
with stern refusalS to talk.
Plot Behind His Back
On the other hand, it is learned
that Henry Fletcher, chairman Of
the Republican national commit
tee, knows nothing at all about
Lewis Douglas supposed connec-
ton with the projected constitu-
tional party. The plot, it seems,
Is being Matched behind Mr..
Eletcher's back.
Close to the idea Of conStitu-
tional party of any sort is the
American Liberty League. That
group, without indorsing either
Mr.. Douglas or the idea of the
Constitutional Republican party
would be extremely interested in
both. So much so, that perhaps
before the campaign started, the
league would be pushing the
ticket for all it is worth.
The Liberty League likes the
idea Of reducing the expenditures
of Government and balancing the
budget; that has been Lewis
Douglass theme song.
Mr.. Douglas has been In the
press and in the magazines at fire.
quent intervals since he broke
with President Roosevelt on the
budget policies of the Administers
ton. He is an outstanding critic
Of the budget as it stands, and,
as any Administration leader will
tell you. Mr.. Douglas wields a
sharp harpoon.
Douglas q Democrat
However, Lewis Douglas is o
Democrat. He served as Demo
crat in the Arizona legislature:
three terms in the House, and was
o Democrat as director Of the
budget. He is merely an anti
Roosevelt Democrat, who appar-
entity has wanted to stay in the
ranks with men like Senators
Glass and Byrd and do their
SQOOGluR 1EOIu "1CI11us
But there has been tremendous
pressure from some of the con-
servatives of both major parties TO
wipe out present party lines and
form q brand-new party, con-
servative in financial programs
and stick to traditional conStitu-
-AonaiSm.
There has been along with
this, the idea of a Democrat
running as the nominee Of the
Republican party. but that has
not set well enough with enough
Republicans to make 1t any
thing but a dull day story for
the political writer's.
And yet, one of the policy
makers of an influential group
opposed to President Roosevelt,
whose name has to be withheld
said today:
eff it seems wise to nOmi-
nate a Democrat on the Re
publican ticket or to attract
Republican votes to / Demo
crat by any type Of party,
Lewis Douglas would be q wise
choice"