The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1938-04-26

this third-party agitation Is the cur
rent trip through the country OF
Fiorella H. LaGuardia, New York S
pugnacious little mayor, who, in
his checkered political career, has
borne the label of many parties,
including the Republican, Social
list, and FuSionist. He was elected
last time with covert New Deal
support, whipping Tammany and
the conservative Republicans in
the process.
CAUSE OF STUDY
These developments-the La Fol
lette move and the LaGuardia mis-
sionary trip-are causing the New
Dealers and the Republicans to do
a bit of re-calculating where 1910
is concerned, even though it is
two years away.
Up to now, the Democrats have
been proceeding on two theories:
Cd That President Roosevelt will
be candidate for third term, or
90 that he will so dominate the
Democratic convention of 1910 as
to be able to name his successor.
Mr.. Roosevelt has been extreme
ly chary Of committing himself
where 1910 is concerned. To in
Inmates he has confided that he
wants to retire and become the
country squire of Hyde Park; that
he wants nothing more than that.
But those same intimates believe,
rightly or wrongly, that con-
ditions may arise which would
make Mr.. Roosevelt change his
mind. One would be world war.
Another would be the continuance
of the depression, which has over
taken the country midway of his
second administration.
In either of these contingencies,
some of Mr.. Roosevelt's closest
Enthusiastically or wrongly-be-
lieve he will, as one of them put
it, "Stay in there and pitch" 1t
is of more than passing signifi-
canoe that some of the Presidents
nearest intimates believe that.
HAS KEPT QUIET
This belief, however, is not
based upon anything Mr.. Roose-
welt has said. even in moments of
confidence. On the subject of a
third term, or his own choice Of a
successor, he has maintained a
canny silence.
This has been more or less COM
pulsory for political reasons.
Once he announced definitely
that he was not a candidate, he
would lose whatever measure of
control he has over his party.
And for him to indicate a pre-
ference as to his successor would
Immediately subject that in
dividual to the artillery of all the
other aspirants, of whom there
are many.
Thus far, Mr.. Roosevelt has
scrupulously avoided any indica-
ton of favoritism among the
various Democratic hopefuls. He
has had kind words and deeds for
all of them.
The one man for whom he has
really gone down the line" has
been Senator Alben w. Barley of
Kentucky, whom he made Senate
leader. But Barkley's fate is tied
up in his own fight for renomina-
ton in the August primary in Ken
lucky, where he is opposed by
Governor A. B. Happy" Chand-
Ter.
A defeat for Barley there would
automatically eliminate him from
! all consideration in 1910. A vic
tory, on the other hand, would
make him a formidable figure, al.
ways providing that Mr.. Roosevelt
himself is not a candidate.
Friends of Paul V. McNutt, for,
mer Governor of Indiana, now
High Commissioner of the Philip,
pines, profess not to be worried
about Mr.. RooSevelt'S attitude
where their man is concerned
McNutt had several extended con,
ferenceS with Mr.. Roosevelt dur
ing his recent visit here and went
away repeatedly perfectly salts.
fled" with the situation.
PLANS FOR TOUR
McNutt is expected to retire from
his Philippine post about October
and go on a world tour as the
representative of the President be-
fore returning to the States to be-
gin in earnest his campaign for
J the 1910 nomination. The tour
won't detract any from McNutt's
stature as a 1910 possibility.
The availability of Governor
George H. Earle of PENNSYLVANIA
is to a considerable extent tied uu
IN the Pennsylvania primary next
, month, in which Earle is seeking g
. seat in the United States Senate
= Earle may suffer there in the split
! IN the ranks Of organized labor. SC
=