Evening star., 1939-01-10
The Political Mill
RooseveIt's Call to All Democrats to Surrender
To New DeuIism for Harmony Is Unheeded

ever, OF Senator Minton, one of the
most ardent New Dealers, and also
OF Senator Van Nuys, who fought
the President on his court bill and
other measures. Both are Hoosiers,
and all Hoosier Democrats, they ex-
plain. are backing Mr.. McNutt.
The President understands very
well that today, q year and a half
In advance of the Democratic Ma
tional Convention to select a presi-
dental candidate, the early birds in
the race for the nomination are
picking up potential delegates here
and there; that they are seeking
pledges Of Democratic leaders who
will be influential with their State
delegations. He knows very well
what Jim" Farley did for him in
advance Of the national convention
of 1882, lining up support in all
parts Of the country. 1t is his effort
now to head off too great a collec-
ton Of delegates by the Democrats
who do not see eye to eye with him.
Has Farley So Far.
He still has Mr.. Farley, chairman
of the Democratic National Com
mittee, with him. Mr.. Farley, 1t is
believed, would 60 right down the
line for the President If he should
become candidate for renomina-
ton. But If the President sets his
heart on nominating, for example,
Secretary of Commerce Harry L.
Hopkins as his successor what
would Mr.. Farley do them.
AS a matter of fact, just how far
could Mr.. Farley get In the matter
of nominating Democrat who was
disliked or opposed by a considerable
bloc in the Democratic party? Those
who believe that the President
should take a third term are arguing
today that Mr.. Roosevelt is the only
simon-pure New Dealer who could
win the Democratic nomination in
1910. And some will read into the
Presidents jackson day dinner
speech an implication that he may
be a candidate again-although the
President said no such thing. They
will even 60 further and say the
President implied that If the Demo-
Gratis do not nominate New Dealer
a third party may be organized in
order that a liberal President may
be elected.
There is no evidence so far that
the President has won back to the
New Deal Senators like Byrd and
Glass of Virginia, Burke Of Nebraska,
King Of Utah, George Of Georgia
or Tydings Of Maryland. Stalwarts
like Pat Harrison Of Mississippi and
Byrnes Of South Carolina, leaders in
the Democratic Senate and chair
men Of important committees, have
not recanted on spending and taxing
policies which the President has ad-
vocated and to which they have not
agreed.
Puts on Verbal Spectacle.
The Presidents Jackson day din
ner address went over with a bang.
1t was q great performance, In
which he made a Democrat out Of
Abraham Lincoln and, by implica-
ton, Republicans out Of dozen or
more Democratic Senators.
One Democratic Senator, COM
menting rather bitterly but privately
for the time being-on the Pres
ident's speech, said that nothing like
1t had been said during all the
course of the 1886 campaign, when
the President was up for reelection.
In those days. no effort was made,
this Senator insisted, to drive him
out Of the party-or any other Dem
ocrat. And he predicted that no
such speech would be made In 1910,
when another presidential election
Is on.
On the other hand, it may be
pointed out that prior to 1886 and
its campaign, the President had not
been defled by Democratic Senators
and Representatives as he was later,
when he came forward with his
court and reorganization and wage
hour bills. He had been defied, 1t
is true. by group Of former Demo-
cratic charlottesville AL Smith
Of New York, former Senator James
A. Reed OF Missouri and Bainbridge
Colby, who was Secretary OF State
under woodrow Wilson. The situa-
ton is very different now.