Evening star., 1939-12-17
Garner Formally
Enters Contest
For Presidency
Makes His Candidacy
Known in 44-Word
Statement to Reporter
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

for the Democratic presidential NOM
ination in l940
President Roosevelts running
mate in 1882 and 1896 made his can
didacy known in a 44-word state
ment, dictated to newspaperman
on the porch of his home in Uvalde,
Tex. He said
Il will accept the nomination for
President 1 will make no effort to
control any delegates. The people
should decide. A candidate should
be selected at primaries and con-
ventions as provided by law, and I
sincerely trust that all Democrats
will participate in them"
The statement, was the first au-
thentic quotation authorized by the
Vice President in seven years In
just two other instances have quota
ton marks been placed around a
statement of his in that time, and
these were in speeches in 1886, one
in accepting the denomination by
the National Convention at Phila-
delphia and the other over the radio
from his home at Uvalde during
that campaign.
Vice President Garner's statement
that he would be a candidate was
made with no more notice to the
public and the press than was the
Il do not choose to run" statement
made by President Coolidge in South
Dakota in 1927. He had told no one
in Uvalde he planned to make the
statement.
Ears Turned to Hyde Park.
Washington, when it heard of the
Garner statement last night. turned
its eyes and ears toward Hyde Park,
where President Roosevelt is spend
ing the week end. News of the Vice
Presidents statement was tele-
phoned to the Chief Executive, but
he had no comment.
On every side, the question was:
What will the President say to this
fat declaration by Mr.. Garner?'
Garner supporters have insisted
for weeks that they did not be-
lieve the President would be cam
didate to succeed himself next year.
, They have insisted also there was
no doubt that the President would
support Mr.. Garner-provided Mr..
Garner could get the nomination.
| In certain New Deal quarters.
/ however. the candidacy of the Vice
| President has brought no JOY. There
it has been recalled that Mr. Garner
sided against the President in Su-
preme Court bill fight with the Con-
gress, and that while Mr.. Garner
has never broken openly with the
| President he has been an effective
/ opponent of other measures and
/ plans of the Chief Executive.
Up to date most of the Democratic
presidential possibilities have re-
Trained from openly casting their
hats in the political ring. An ex-
ception is Federal Security Admin
istrator Paul V. McNutt. who is a
candidate. however, only if Presi-
dent Roosevelt does not get into
the race The name of Senator
Burton K Wheeler of Montana also
has been put forward by some Of his
Western colleagues as presiden-
tial prospect, and Mr.. Wheeler in
ST. Paul this week indicated he
might be receptive candidate if
the President does not run.
Unconditional Candidate.
Mr.. Gamers candidacy has no
strings tied to it. When he made
his statement yesterday he became
the first unconditional candidate for
Democratic nomination.
In Dallas, after the Garner an
nouncement, E. B. Germany, who
has been in charge of the Garner
for President headquarters for
months. said:
Mr.. Garner'S name will be before
the 1910 Democratic National Con-
vention on all the ballots there are"
In other words. Mr. Garner will
not step aside, no matter whether
the Presidents name is presented to
the convention or not.
Most Capital comment on the an
nouncement was restrained. Friends
were quick. however, to praise the
Vice Presidents record of 80 years
of service in the national Govern
ment.
The Vice President has a large
following" said Senator Holt, DEM
ocrat. of West Virginia. frequent
administration critic. He will be
a formidable candidate for any one
in the party-and when I say any
one, mean any one
Declaring that Mr.. Garner Has
great many friends in North
Carolina Senator Bailey. Demo-
crat, of North Carolina. added: His
record, any way you look at 1t, is
good
Most of those who have been crit
ical of Mr. Garner in the past with
held comment. 1t appeared certain,
however, that Mr.. Garners action
would sharpen the political fire
which already has been directed
at him.
Denounced by Lewis.
Long regarded as a potential can
didate, the ruddy-faced Vice Presi-
dent was sharply denounced last
July by John L. Lewis, c. I. o.
chieftain.
Testifying before the House Labor
Committee. Mr.. Lewis accused Mr..
Garner of responsibility for attempts
to modify labor legislation.
He remarked that the origin of
the attacks on the legislation was
not hard to find. adding that the
opposition came from labor-bait-
ing, poker-playing. whisky drinking,
evil old man, whose name is John
NJ Garner"
Mr.. Lewis said he was against Mr..
Garner personally, concretely and
in the abstract" asserting:
And Ill be against him when he
seeks the presidency in 1910"
When asked for comment last
night on Mr.. Gamers statement,
Mr.. Lewis gave out word that he had
nothing to say because his views on
(See GARNER, Page A-4D
|