Evening star., 1939-12-03
Late Convention Strategy Seen
AS Benefiting United G. O. P.
Proposal Might Also Work to the Advantage Of
Roosevelt Himself, but Runs Risk
of Democratic Breach
By Raymond P. Brandt.

The thinly veiled suggestion from the
Little White House" at Warm Springs
that the Democrats and Republicans
might we'll postpone their national con-
ventions from June to late July or early
August brought into the open the jockey
ing of organization leaders for the in
side track in the presidential race next
year.
The ostensible reasons given at Mr..
Roosevelts press conference for delay
ing the conventions were that shorter
campaign would save money and relieve
the voters from listening to repetitious
campaign speeches. The truer explana-
ton is that each party wants the other
to name candidates and write plat
form first in order to shape its own plans
accordingly For weeks, Charles Michel
son, publicity director for the Democratic
National Committee, and Franklyn
Waltman, jr., the Republican press chief,
have been making Alphonse-Gaston
gestures to each other, but with no
thought of politeness. Each hopes to
spread the idea that the party for which
he speaks can outwait the other.
Wait May Aid G. o. P. More.
There can be little question of the
general soundness of the idea of later
conventions and shorter campaigns.
Next wear. however, there will be special
considerations for each party. At this
writing, the Republicans appear to have
more to gain from waiting than the
Democrats.
Since 1856, the Republicans have held
their conventions before the Democrats
except in the campaigns of 1856 and
1888. Historically, the Democrats have
logic on their side when they say their
convention should come second. But
the Republicans were in power most OF
those years, and it would have been in
terpreted as a sign of weakness had they
deferred writing a platform and naming
candidates until after the Democrats
had made their choices.
In 1885 there was talk among Repub-
lican leaders that the 1896 convention
should be postponed until after the
Democrats had acted. This plan was
rejected because it was known when the
National Committee met in December,
1885, that President Roosevelt would be
renominated and would seek reelection
on A defense of the New Deal. The Re
publicans, therefore, observed historical
precedent by holding their convention
first.
The situation now is different and
when the "a members of the Republican
Executive Committee meet in Washing
ton next Thursday, there will be serl-
Gus discussion of abandoning precedent
and outwaiting the Democrats. The
Executive Committee has no power to
| determine when and where the conven-
| sion shall be held-that is the prerog-
ative solely of the full committee. But
| Chairman John Hamilton will discuss
this question with the powerful Repubi-
can leaders and their opinions will have
great weight when he issues the call for
the meeting of the full committee, prob
| ably for some time in January.
Strategy Depends on Candidates.
Mr.. Waltman, as spokesman for
| Chairman Hamilton, has pointed out
| that this year, although the Republicans
| are united as rarely before, they are
| completely in the dark about the prob
able 1910 Democratic candidates and
platform. II Mr.. Roosevelt seeks third
term, the Republican strategy will be
| entirely different from what will be re-
quired If the Democrats nominated Vice
| President Garner, Secretary of State
Hull, Postmaster General Farley or Fed
eral Security Administrator McNutt.
| Will the Democratic platform be New
Deal, conservative or non-committal?
Being united, the Republicans can af-
ford to wait and see. They would prob
ably gain by short campaign in which
their plans were directed at specific can
didates and issues. Can the Democrats
afford to try the same tactics?
The Democrats are not united and are
not likely to be brought together before
the convention meets If the convention
is delayed unduly long, it is easily con-
ceivable that the bitter factional feelings
engendered at a convention will not have
time to cool down before the election.
With the party split, it would be safer to
have an early convention, for once the
choices are made, the tendency is for
feuds to be gradually forgotten and for
all to come to the aid of their party.
But time is needed to cool of.