Evening star., 1936-05-25

since 1882.
Second, the selection of a Democrat
for the vice presidency.
Third, a resolution pledging the
party's candidate for the presidency
to appoint a coalition cabinet con-
sisting of Democrats as well as Re-
publioans.
If the Republican leaders are truly
interested in gathering into their camp
the large number of anti-New Deal
Democrats, so many of whom dislike
to vote the Republican ticket as such,
then a program for coalition would
seem likely to be considered. If the
Republican command, on the other
hand, thinks the party can win with
out the Democrats, the convention
will probably repeat the empty ges-
ture made by the Republican Com
mittee last Winter about inviting
Democrats to vote the ticket and let
1t go at that.
Many Republicans See Crisis.
Blu there are many Republicans who
think a crisis faces the party, in fact,
that it is on trial and that severe de-
feat in the forthcoming election may
mean the fate of the old Whig party,
which died in 1860.
AS a matter of fact, there is a
curious historic parallel in the men
ton of the Civil War situation, and
oddly enough it concerns Henry
Breckinridge, who recently made a
gallant fight in the primaries of four
States and who now is being men
toned as a possibility for the vice
presidential nomination at the Cleve-
land convention.
Henry Breckinridge's grandfather,
Robert j. Breckenridge, was the leader
of the Union cause in Kentucky.
Though a Democrat, he was chosen
chairman of the convention that NOM
mated Abraham Lincoln in 1864. He
was insistent that the convention be
called a Republican convention be-
cause it might not attract Democrats
and Wings as well as Republicans,
and the records will show that Abra-
ham Lincoln was renominated by what
was IllC OIllOll VI 4Nol1O11tA
Union Convention. Also on demand Of
Robert Breckenridge and border State
Wings and Democrats. Andrew john
son, a Tennessee Democrat, was nomi-
mated for the vice presidency as the
running mate of Abraham Lincoln.
Recurrence This Year Possible.
1t would be curious turn of his
tory if the same thing happened this
year with respect to the grandson
of Robert Breckenridge, namely, if the
Cleveland convention styled itself
coalition convention and named q
Democrat for the Vice Presidency.
If Gov. Landon is the nominee and
makes only front porch campaign,
1t may be even more important from
his standpoint to have a man of the
Breckenridge type for his runningmate.
Breckenridge is a splendid campaigner
and remarkable orator. He inherits
the fighting qualities of his ancestors,
one of whom-his great grandfather
was Attorney General in the cabinet
of Thomas Jefferson and another OF
whom was Vice President of the
United States under President
Buchanan in 1860 and later joined
the Confederacy.
Col. Breckinridge is graduate of
the class of 1907 of Princeton Univer-
sity and while there attracted the
attention of Woodrow Wilson. who
later made him Assistant Secretary of
War. In 1918, Col. Breckinridge was
at the Western front with the Infantry
and on his return practiced law. He
has been interested also in the aviation
business and has been the personal
attorney for Col. Lindberg, who
doubtless would not hesitate to cam
paign for Breckinridge if the latter
were nominated for the vice presi-
dency on a coalition ticket Lindberg's
support undoubtedly would be pointed
because he made the first protest
against that sudden cancellation of
the air mail contracts which resulted
In the death of several Army pilots
In an abortive attempt to substitute
an unframed personnel for air mail
men in the middle of the Winter
q blunder that has not been forgotten
and will be recalled in the campaign
this year, especially since it looks as
If Postmaster General Farley Is going
to be an object of some controversy,
politically speaking.
Douglas Also Mentioned.
There is also some talk of nominat-
ing Lewis Douglas for the vice presi-
dency. He, too, Is Democrat who has
repudiated the New Deal Mr.. Douglas
was a member of Congress from
Arizona before he became director of
the budget. The friends of Breckin-
ridge are pointing out that he has
tasted fire in the primaries in four
States and that his vigor as a cam
paigner ought to make him first on
that account.
But matters such as these are de-
eided by group Of Republican chief
tains, who have their own ideas about
the vice presidency and there are, of
course, many Republicans with eyes
on the place. It could happen that q
Democrat would be selected for the
vice presidential nomination, but the
chances are very much against 1t
because the Cleveland convention is
composed of regular Republicans, who
care more about party habits than
they do about extraordinary situations.
But II they really need q precedent,
they will find that Lincoln did it in
1864 in the very first years of the
partY,s long period of