Evening star., 1937-10-31
LEADERS ADVISE
AGAINST Sd TERM
Six Democratic State Chair
men State Opposition to
Breaking Precedent.

The Democratic State chairmen Of
six States advise against a third-term
nomination for President Roosevelt,
according to private poll the results
of which were revealed yesterday.
along with the considered answers of
these Democratic leaders.
One of them, j. B. Hodges, chair
man of the State Democratic Execu-
tive Committee of Florida, breaks
completely with the President and
his administration. Attacking the
President with a sharpness which no
Republican has surpassed, this Demo-
cratic leader charges Mr.. Roosevelt
with making unconstitutional" pro-
posals, encouraging" sit-down strikes,
breaking his budget-balancing prom
ises and spreading lack of confidence.
He suggests that instead of an in
quiry as to a third term, an investi-
CATION should determine whether the
people want "the completion of the
Presidents second term"
Finally, member of the Presidents
own family, Franklin D. Roosevelt, jr.,
now at the University of Virginia,
enters the third-term discussion to
leave the door open because what we
feel today may have to be revised two
years from now in the light of cir
cumstances beyond our control, such
as the foreign situation"
The Minnesota Democratic chair
man declared the two-term rule was
an unwritten part of the Constitu-
tion. The South Dakota chairman
said he had already informed mem
bers of the cabinet that the voters
of his State positively were against
a third t@m for anyone. The Kansas
chairman said it would be "a bad
precedent" The Alabama chairman
asserted third-term candidate would
sound the death knell' of the party
sponsoring him and Alabama would
go Republican for the first time in
history if he we're a Democrat. Ac-
cording to the chairman for Missis-
sippi, the people as whole would
look with disfavor upon a third term"
Origin of Poll.
The poll which produced these re-
suits was taken by Joseph Leib. for
merly of South Bend, Ind, young DO
lltical writer who organized the first
Rocsevelt-for President Club in 1880
and was an eager member of the
Young Democratic movement in 1882.
A persistent letter writer, he polled the
State Democratic chairmen in 1885
and gave out the answers showing that
the overwhelming majority of the dele
gates to the 1885 convention would
carry instructions to vote for Mr..
Roosevelt
The poll this year was cut short be-
cause the Democratic National Com
mittee stepped in to halt it. Lawrence
w. Robert, jr.. secretary of the COM
mittee, was informed by Charles Reid.
Georgia State chairman, of the letter
he had received asking his views on
third term. Robert advised Leib to
stop. Subsequently, and presumably
on advice from national headquarters,
no more chairmen sent in their views.
All six who replied thought a third
term would be distinctly unwise.
The seven-page letter from Mr..
Hodges, the Florida State chairman.
upon which he said by telephone later
he was willing to stand publicly, was
described on Capitol Hill yesterday as
Southern political development of
the first order Mr.. Hodges had been
public critic of the Presidents Su-
preme Court plan and an insurgent on
some other matters, but today he leads
Florida insurrection against Mr..
Roosevelt personally and his whole
conduct of affairs.
Private Views Contrast.
The more or less private views of
these State chairmen are in striking
contrast to public comments of sew
eral Democrats in public office who
may be seeking to ingratiate them
selves at the White House. Gov.
George H. Earle of Pennsylvania is
one of those who have been talking
up the third-term idea.
The following replies were received
from State Democratic chairmen
polled:
Herbert Holmes, chairmen Missis-
sippi State Democratic Executive Com
mittee-
"Of course, 1t is impossible for me
to know how all the people of cur
State regard a third term for the
President, but from what 1 can learn
from those with whom 1 have talked,
the people as whole would look
with disfavor upon third term.
Those who are receiving employ
ment and/or bounty from the Gov
ernment, whom l have contacted, |
are very much in favor of his nomi- |
nation for third term, but this does
not represent a very large voting
c. M. Fitzwilliam, Kansas State
Committee chairman
President Roosevelt is strong as
ever in Kansas, and though Kansans |
are not for third term, I think |
he would carry the State. Personally, |
I think it would be bad precedent" |
A. w. Powell, South Dakota State |
chairman
Tom Berry served two terms as
the most popular Governor that South |
Dakota ever had. He balanced the |
budget, reduced bonded indebtedness
several million dollars and operated |
the State without a levy on real
estate or personal property.
I'm 1885 we though he was our
strongest candidate for Governor and |
he ran for the third term and was
defeated by over 10000 votes, when
every constitutional officer won.
tMr. Roosevelt lost over 80 900 votes |
In 1886 and know it would be fatal |
to ask the people of South Dakota
to re-elect him for the third
term ~
Alabaman's Views.