Evening star., 1937-12-25
THE POLITICAL
MILL
BY C. GOULD LINCOLN.

Is one OF the latest political leaders to
foresee q demand that President Roose-
welt run for third term in 1910. Indeed,
Senator Norris expects such q demand
unless the opponents of President Roose-
velt's program cease to oppose and be-
have themselves. 1t is pretty much =
foregone conclusion that the opposition
to many of the New Deal proposals will
continue during the next two years. It
seems not unlikely that the opposition
to these proposals will succeed at least
in delaying them. If Senator Norris
premise is correct, an effort to prevail
upon the President to seek a third term
appears certainty.
~
Division in the Democratic ranks,
which began seriously when the Presi-
dent sought at the last regular session
of Congress to put through his bill for
an increase in the Supreme Court men,
bership, has shown no signs of abating
in the special session just closed. There
seems little prospect that this division
will be healed by anything that Senator
Norris, who is listed as an independent
and Senator La Toilette of Wisconsin, a
Progressive" may say or do Rumors
are to the effect that the President in
tends to crack down on Congress when
1t meets again January 3, and demand
that it drive through his legislative pro-
gram. The efforts of the more ardent
New Dealers. including Norris and La
Toilette, so far have resulted only in
more stubborn resistance on the part Of
those Democrats who still lay claim to
"Jefersonian" principles of Government.
tx*
Senator Norris may be entirely correct
in his prediction that the President will
be forced by his followers to run again
for the presidency-although the Presi-
dent himself has so far thrown cold
water on the idea. Half dozen or more
Democratic Governors of States have al
ready declared for third term for the
President. If he is not to be the nominee
of the Democratic party In 1910, to
whom will the honor go? There is serious
talk in Texas and elsewhere of placing
Vice President Garner at the head Of
the Democratic ticket. How would that
suit many of the New Dealers? A good
guess is that 1t would not suit them at
all, although many of the old-line Demo-
Gratis would welcome such nomination.
Vice President Garner is, of course, say
ing nothing about the presidential nomi-
nation. He has maintained a discreet
silence ever since he became Vice Presi-
dent in 1888. He has been given credit,
however, IN the last year with taking a
very effective part in certain legislative
battles on Capitol Hill-a part which has
not been to the liking of many of the
more ardent New Dealers about the
President. 1t may be said for the Vice
President, however. that he bias the
warm regard and affection of the men,
bers of the Senate even to an extent
that no other predising officer has had
in years. If he has other political am
billions, he will have plenty of support
in the Senate when the time rolls round.
A year or two ago President Roosevelt
declared himself openly for the re-
election of Senator Norris-although
Norris was not registered Democrat
and had never been and although the
Democrats of Nebraska nominated a
candidate of their own Norris, the
President said, should be retained in
the Senate as long as he should live.
The veteran Nebraska Senator has fol-
lowed the President through thick and
thin-he even agreed to go along on the
court bill, although he did not think
highly of 1t. His suggestion that the
President have third term is reciprocity
carried to the final degree.
The Democratic boss OF New JERSEY.
Mayor Frank Hague of Jersey City, who
happens to be vice chairman Of the
Democratic National Committee as we'll,
is fighting knock down, drag g-out battle
with the c. I. o. The c. I. o. in the past,
through its chairman, John L. Lewis,
has been an ardent supporter of Presi-
dent Roosevelt. Mr.. Hague's attitude
toward the c. I. O.. which apparently
he does not like, is painful to New
Dealers-or some of them. How soon Is
the administration going to crack down
on Mayor Hague, and how? It has been
Mr.. Hague who has delivered the neces-
sary Democratic votes in Jersey to carry
the State. He did it in the last guber-
material contest, for example. This is
just one of the minor problems which
the New Deal party has on its hands.
X +
Senator Guffey has declared himself,
1t is reported, for Governor George Earle
Of Pennsylvania for Senator to succeed
Senator James j. Davis. Republican.
same ticket in 1894. the first Democrat
Senator and the first Democrat Governor
Of the Keystone State in years. Senator
Guffey is not inclined to give up his pres
ent senatorial post in order to run for
Governor next year, If they might again
be on the same ticket. Guffey says he
will stick to the Senate and seek to sue
ceed himself in the election of l940
Governor Earle who has been put for
ward many times as presidential posi-
bility in 1910, is ineligible, under the State
law, to succeed himself as Governor. He
has not yet said whether he will be q
candidate for the Senate next year. He
must take the chance of running for the
Senate then, or obtain some important
appointive place from the President, or
fade out of the public picture for a year
or two. If he has presidential aspira-
tions, as he is believed to have, the fad
ing out process may not appeal to him.
On the other hand, If he runs for the
Senate and does not win he will have
lost any chance he may have for the
presidential nomination in 1910.
There is more than meets the eye In
this Pennsylvania situation. John l..
Lewis and United Mine Workers, not to
mention the C. l. O.. are demanding that
the Democrats of Pennsylvania nomi-
nate Lieutenant Governor Thomas Ken
nedy for Governor next, year. Demo-
cratic leaders don't like the prospect of
placing Kennedy, who is secretary treas
urer of the mine workers union, in nomi-
nation for Governor. If they do not,
they may face fight from Lewis and