Evening star., 1937-11-11


advanced as possible presidential
nominees when they Endorsed MIR.
Roosevelt for reelection during the
last session.
Since the adjournment of Congress,
Senator King of Utah has suggested
Senator Byrd of Virginia and Senator
Clark of Missouri as acceptable candi-
dates. Senator Burke of Nebraska
names Vice President Garner as
logical choice and Gov Davey of Ohio
Is put forward by Senator Holt of West
Virginia.
Others mentioned for the nominal
ton are Majority Leader Barkley,
Senator from Kentucky; former Gov.
McNutt of Indiana, now High Com
missioner to the Philippines, backed
by Senators Minton and Van Nuys;
Secretary of Agriculture Wallace of
Iowa, and Gov. Lehman and Postmas-
ter General Farley of New York.
Hull Backed in Resolution.
The most impressive Endorsement to
date was conferred on Secretary Of
State Hull October 20, when the Sem
ate of the Tennessee Legislature
unanimously adopted resolution urg-
ing him for the presidency.
Action at the special session to up
hold the tradition against third
term is expected to be influenced by
the fact that the Senate today has
numerous potential candidates in its
own ranks, in addition to Secretary
Hull, q former Senator, and Senator
Vandenberg of Michigan, a leading
Republican contender
1t is recalled that after President
Coolidge had twice stated that he
was not candidate the Senate
adopted an anti-third term resolution
at q time when an equal number of
Senators sought the Republican nomi-
nation. Even the late Senator Cur
tis of Kansas, who was a pre-con-
vention candidate in 1928 for first
place on the ticket, voted against
third term while serving as the ad-
ministration's floor leader in the
Senate.
In order to block action upholding
the two-term tradition it would be
necessary for the leading supporters
of President Roosevelt in the Senate
to reverse the position they took
when the same question arose under
President Coolidge. The late Sena-
tor Robinson of Arkansas and Sena-
tor Harrison of Mississippi vigorously
advocated the resolution in speeches
on the floor.
Swanson Chided G. o. p. Leaders.
Senator Swanson OF Virginia, now
Secretary Of the Navy In the Roose-
velt cabinet, also voted against
third term and accused Republican
opponents of doing somersault"
on the issue since the 1912 Bull
Moose" campaign.
The unwritten law against a third
term, Senator Robinson told the Sem
ate, "is well established in the con-
science and judgment Of the great
majority Of the American people"
There Is power and an influ-
ence," the late Democratic floor lead
er said, which accrues to one In
high office. particularly q high ex-
ecutive Office, which enables that
individual, if he chooses to exercise
his power, to encompass his own
preferment in spite of the will of
the public. A President who desires
10 do 80 can force his own renomina-
ton"
Digging into the records of the
debate on the resolution adopted un-
der Coolidge, members of the Senate
have found that out of 43 Democrats
present, SO voted for adoption and
only opposed it. Only one Demo-
crat who remains in the Senate,
Senator Walsh of Massachusetts,,
voted against 1t, stating his belief
IN the two-term principle but op-
posing action because of the Presi-
dents statement that he was not q
candidate.
Republican speeches against the
resolution were confined to Senators
Reed of Pennsylvania, Edge of New
Jersey, Jones of Washington, Fess of
Ohio, Shortridge of California and
Bingham of Connecticut, all of whom
have since been succeeded in the
Senate by Democrats.
President Rules Sentiment.
In the course of the debate Senator
Norris Of Nebraska touched upon a
phase Of the third-term question
which Is today giving concern to po-
tential presidential candidates in the
1910 campaign.
AS practical objection to a third
term the Senator cited the power of
the President to control the conven-
ton Of his own party and the futility
of opposition when he is regarded as
. candidate for denomination.
ITO begin with, we have an un-
healthy condition." Senator Norris
said. "The man who is at the head
Of the political machine in power is
recognized by his friends and his
foes as being able to renominate
himself.
There Is no contest over it; there
Is no competition. That is always