Evening star., 1938-09-15
The Political Mill
New Deal Third. Term Advocates Are Getting Little
Comfort From Primaries.

thing from telling Congress what 1t
must do.
Aspirations Problematical.
President Roosevelt has given no
indication himself that he will seek
a third term-although he has never
said he would not. Chairman James
A. Farley Of the Democratic Ma
tional Committee. writing In the
American Magazine, published today,
insists that he himself does not know
whether the President has In mind
running again. Il have never dis
cussed the third term question with
President Roosevelt, and I have no
intention OF doing so." Mr.. Farley
says. 1T is good strategy, Of course.
for the opposition presumably he
means the Republicans) to keep peck
ing away at the question. On the
other hand, 1t would be the worst
tactics imaginable for President Roose-
welt to say anything about the matter
one way or another.
Roosevelt has his eye on 1910 as
we'll as the next man. Knowing poll
tics as he does and realizing the dan
ger of showing his hand too soon.
doubt If he has confided his actual in
tentions to any individual. Until he
talks q huge question mark should
be placed after any and all specula-
tions about 1910"
Mr.. Farley apparently does not close
the door to third term drive for
Yvo IA orf anita thu
trary. The events of the next year
will necessarily have a good deal to
do with the attitude of the President
unless he has already definitely and
finally made up his mind not to run
under any conditions.
1t has been said in many quarters
that the Presidents attempt to con-
troll the nomination Of Senators and
Representatives favorable to him and
his policies was actuated by q desire
to be sure to control the national
convention in 1910. His lack Of sue
cess in the purge" OF Democrats who
have opposed him would foreshadow
q real fght in the convention two
years hence. On the other hand, the
fact that Democrats to whom the
President has given his approval have
been renominated must not be over
looked
Robinson Pledge Claimed.
For the first time Mr. Farley in his
magazine story of the New Deal makes
public declaration that President
Roosevelt told the late Senator Joe"
Robinson Of Arkansas that he intend
ed to appoint him to the Supreme
Court. There was a great deal Of
speculation before Senator Robinson
died as to whether the President in
tended to place the Democratic leader
Of the Senate on the bench. That
speculation has continued. Mr.. Far
ley's statement is the first attempt
to lift the veil which has hitherto
hung over this matter. Many Of Sen
ator Robinson's closest associates In
sisted that no promise had been made
the Senator that he would be ap-
pointed to the highest court
Mr.. Farley in his article says that
Mrs Robinson, widow Of the Senator,
told me how happy the Senator had
been over the knowledge that he was
to be appointed to the Supreme bench"
That statement, he says, was made
to him on the funeral train on the
way to Arkansas soon after Senator
Robinson's death. Senator Robinson
died suddenly in the midst of the
fight to pass the Presidents court
bill through the Senate. There has
been criticism Of the President for
not giving the appointment to Robin
son-and from the statement now
made by Mr. Farley the criticism was
entirely unjust.
The President has another vacancy
on the Supreme Court to fill. Whether
he will make the appointment before
the Senate reconvenes and is in a
position to confirm the appointment
has been the subject Of much specula-
ton The court resumes its sessions
in October and will do so with an
eight-man court unless the President
nils the vacancy and hts appointee
takes his place on the bench under
a receSs aprointmeY,t