Evening star., 1937-06-26

. part In the
campaign. the questioning as to
PreHdent's purposes becomes con-
eretA.
Mr., Roosevelt tried by means Of
radio speech last March to tell the
country plainly that he had no third
term ambitions. He said he did not
want 10 leave the country in the con-
dibaon which Buchanan left it to Lin
coin. Nevertheless there were many
people who at the time expressed the
fear that II crisis did occur, Mr.
Roosevelt might feel that he couldn't
Leave the country to govern itself, but
that It would need his own services.
Maybe Mr.. Roosevelt had no such
idea. Yet there are just a few words
which can dispel all doubts, and
until those words now are spoken the
acts Of the President are bound to be
construed Is tinged with political pur-
pose. Those words have been spoken
before BY individuals suggested for the
pres1dency. namely Gen. Sherman,
shortly after the War Between the
oUAOSO lac SClfCI d Sdlus 4 " la ~.
cept II nominated"
Mr.. Roosevelts position in the next
three years as an independent force
would be immeasurably strengthened
Il he stated now that he is not can
didAte for third term and would
not accept II nominated. Unfor-
tunately. until he makes a statement
as unequivocal as this, his own hench-
men will 60 on the assumption that
his silence is significant Of receptive
ness to . draft movement.
Woodring Remarks Cited.
Already the Secretary Of War in Mr..
Roosevelt's cabinet has indicated that
the President might have to run again.
But Gov. Earle of Pennsylvania, him.
SELF prominently mentioned for the
Democratic nomination, comes out
unqualifiedly for the President for a
third term in 1910.
Knowing how important a role
Pennsylvania big delegation plays in
. national convention, this means that
Mr.. Roosevelt is being considered as
. probable nominee by his own party
leaders. It takes only majority vote
now instead Of a two-thirds vote to
nominate in Democratic convention,
hence it would be relatively simple for
the ofhceholders who dominate the
party delegations to bring about Mr..
Roosevelt's denomination.
Senator Wagner Of New York says
Mr.. Roosevelt will not geek" the
nomination. He does not need to seek
It. His very silence will be encourage
msnt to his lieutenants nod from
Postmaster General Farley and the
bandwagon will start among the Fed
orsl ofnceholders.
Back in 1912, when Theodore Roose-
~eit, after 4 lapse OF four years, sought
- b made President again after two
terms, Woodrow Wilson said: There
IS no indispensable man"
Question Involved.
The question TO be raised by the
third term controversy is whether a
FEDERAL machine operated with huge
Federal funds can perpetuate Presi-
dent tn ONCE. Members OF Congress
from the Presidents own party will
strive to obtain the passage Of an
amendment TO the Federal Constitu- |
tion limiting Presidents to a single |
term OF six years. The charge Of die
tstorship will be heard again and
again.
Literally, Of course there is nothing |
IN the Constitution to prevent third |
term for 4 President. The American |
people have by custom frowned upon
the idea of q third term ever since |
George Washington gracefully de-
clined the honor. Will Franklin |
Roosevelt break the precedent set by |
the Father of the American Republic? |
Gov. Earle Of Pennsylvania apparently |
thinks so, and when some one Of his
prominence in the Democratic party |
makes such pronouncement the op-
ponents of a third-term President have
every right to assume until told other
wise that this is the plan OF the pres
ent administration, however it may be
camoufiaged by modest words about |
not seeking the nomination or
wanting to leave the White House In
l94o." The way to stop further specu-
lation on the subject is for Franklin
Roosevelt to say publicly what Theo-
dore Roosevelt said few hours after
his election in 1904:
"A wise custom which limits the
President to two terms regards the
substance and not the form, and under
no circumstances will be candidate
for Or accept another nomination"