Evening star., 1939-02-21
] I16 OIIVICOI Mil
Secretary Hopkins Visit to Home Stote Of Iowa
Regarded by Some as 1910 Trial Balloon

Hopkins next year. At the same
time Mr.. Birmingham Is said to be q
candidate for q $1,000 Job in the
Department Of Commerce, as head
Of the Bureau Of Fisheries. An i'm
portant Iowa Democrat commented
yesterday, however, that it would
smack too much of quid pro quo If
Birmingham should receive this
appointment and at the same time
work for Hopkins delegation.
Two reasons were ascribed for Mr..
Hopkins appointment to be Secre-
retary of Commerce. One was that
the President wished to bring him
forward as presidential candidate
and believed that a cabinet place
was a good springboard. The other
was that he wished to take Mr..
Hopkins out of his old office as head
OF the w. P. A. In view of the serious
charges which had been made that
the w. P. A. had been used for
partisan political purposes.
Mr.. Hopkins has his chance. If
he can bring the administration and
business into more friendly rela-
tionship; if he can be the head and
forefront Of a really material re-
covery program, undoubtedly his
possible presidential candidacy will
gain. New Dealers are confident
that this is just what is going to
happen. President Roosevelt, just be-
fore he embarked on his present
cruise, in an interview gave a pre-
llminary forecast of better relation
ship between Government and busi-
ness. Mr.. Hopkins on Thursday is
expected to follow this up with still
stronger statements.
Faces Big Hurdle.
Whether Mr.. Hopkins succeeds In
lining up Iowa Democrats for him.
self or not, he has a big hurdle, If
he becomes a candidate for presi-
dental honors, in his adopted State
OF New York. There is an exceed
ingly important Democratic leader
in the Empire State, Postmaster
General James A. Farley, State
Democratic chairman as we'll as
national chairman, who is reported
to have strong personal ambitions,
either to be presidential or vice
presidential candidate of the Demo-
Gratis next year. If President Roose-
velt desires to be a candidate him.
self. Mr.. Farley will stand aside, but
that he will be willing TO stand aside
Tor Mr.. Hopkins is something else.
The scramble for delegations to
the next Democratic National Con-
vention already has begun, under
the surface. Mr.. Farley is in a posi-
ton to do lot. For he has count
less friends among the leaders, high
and low, in all the States. There
Is a considerable segment of the
Democratic party which would not
cotton to Mr.. Hopkins. On the other
hand, the backing of the President,
plus that of great many of the
liberals" would be a considerable
asset for Mr.. Hopkins.
The only open candidate for the
Democratic presidential nomination
to date is Paul V. McNutt of In
diana, former Governor and at pres
ent High Commissioner in the Phil
ippines. Mr.. McNutts presidential
headquarters have been opened in
indianapolis. under the direction of
Frank McHale, Democratic national
committeeman. 1t had been Mr..
McNutt's plan to return to this
country sometime this winter, vir-
tually on leave from his office as
High Commissioner. The President,
however, put crimp in these plans.
He is reported to have informed Mr..
McNutt that he could return to the
United States if he wished, but that
II he did he would have to return
In the status Of private citizen, CIV
ing up his present Government
berth.
Not Playing Favorites.
Mr.. McNutt's friends explain the
situation by saying that evidently
the President is not playing favor
ties at this time in the matter Of
presidential aspirations, which he
might be charged with doing if he