Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-08-21

gat ions from
those States in l.
1910. Moreover, FRANKLIN Walton
the usual fore
runners OF presidential denominations
are making their appearance-"third
term" clubs, "spontaneous" petitions
and the talk OF jobholders.
1t Is not so clear that the President
has inspired this movement, although
many of his close friends do not think
he would be adverse to 4 third-term
nomination under the proper circum-
stances. The movement, however, is
being inspired by the Roosevelt safe
lites dependent on his continuance in
ONCE for jobs-the Hopkinses. the
Ickeses, the Keenans and the horde Of
Federal jobholders throughout the
Nation-men who would revert to be-
ing nobodies the minute Mr.. Roosevelt
leaves the White House.
Real Coat-tail Riders.
The desire OF these men to keep Mr..
Roosevelt in ONCE Is understandable
it means keeping themselves in jobs.
Undoubtedly Harold donald Duck
1ckes has pondered how drab life
would be as q lawyer back in Chi
cago and undoubtedly Harry Hopkins
shivers when he thinks of going back
to beating the sidewalks Of New York.
slums as social worker. They are the
real attail riders.
These men realize the deep-seated
hostility OF the American people
against q President remaining in Office
for more than two terms. So they are
building up a picture of the desire Of
benevolent, kindly Mr.. Roosevelt to re-
turn to his fields and woods, unless
and here they take another breath
unless circumstances arise that would
make 1t impossible for him to lay down
his burden. What circumstances, you
ask? Oh. war, with or without threat
Of our involvement or an equally acute
emergency. In that event. we are
solemnly told, Mr. Roosevelt lis not the
kind Of individual who would let his
personal desires interfere with what
seemed to him to be his duty"
Pifie and hooey! No doubt there
will be an emergency around in 1910.
Mr.. Roosevelt and his New Dealers
always can conjure up an emergency
when it suits their convenience. If one
does not happen along, they'll create it.
Remember in March. 1887, when Mr..
Roosevelt was fighting to pack the
Supreme Court, he told the country
a crisis was just around the corner.
1t was under the guise of dealing with
an emergency that the worst of the
New Deal legislation has been enacted.
At all events. far be it from Re-
publicans to discourage such an I'M
dertaking. BY the use Of such tao
tics Mr.. Roosevelt's friends may be
able to force his denomination in
1910, especially since the two-thirds
rule has been abrogated and the con-
tnuance Of the unit rule In effect
would permit his denomination by an
actual minority of the delegates.
Third Term Is Out.
But he will never be reelected for
a third term, emergency or no emer-
gency. In the first place this cry Of
emergency" has been overdone and
the country is little tired of 1t.
Secondly, even the current talk about
a third term has caused a great many
people to wonder whether the real OBJ
Iect Of the Roosevelt administration
Is not to perpetuate itself in power
Somehow, all this talk about third
term and Mr.. Roosevelt's Democratic
purge, especially in Georgia, recalls to
mind q passage in Plato's Republic,
where the great Greek philosopher Is
describing . tyrant, which is the classic
term for dictator.
THE people have always some cham
pion whom they set over them ind
nurse into greatness" said Plato This
and no other Is the root from which a
tyrant springs; when he first appears
above theground he is protector. i. . :.
AT first, in the early days of his
power, he is full Of smiles, and he
salutes every one whom he meets; he
to be called tyrant. who is making
promises in public and also in pri-
vate! liberating debtors and distribut-
ing land to the people and his follow
ers, and wanting to be so kind and
good to every one!
But when he has disposed of for
eign enemies by conquest or treaty, and
there is nothing to fear from them,
then he is always stirring up some war
or other, in order that the people may
require a leader.
Impoverished by Taxes.
HAS he not also another object,
which Is that they may be impover-
ished by payments Of taxes, and thus
compelled to devote themselves to
their daily wants and therefore less
likely to conspire against him?
And If any of them are suspected
by him Of having notions Of freedom,
and of resistance to his authority, he
will have a good pretext for Destroy
ing them by placing them at the mercy
of the enemy; and for all these reasons
the tyrant must be always getting up
q war.
Nov he begins to grow unpopular.
Then some of those who Joined in
setting him up, and who are in power,
speak their minds to him and to one
another, and the more courageous of
them cast in his teeth what is being
DONE :. He is the enemy of them
all, and must seek occasion against
them whether he will or no. until he
has made q purgatino OF the state"
So wrote Plato almost 400 years be-
fore the Christian era began.
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