Evening star., 1939-12-19

The significance of the Garner
statement is twofold. 1t is sort
of warning against a third term
and it is the sign of revival of
the conservative radical division in
the coming session of Congress.
The Garner candidacy will mean
a lining up of various key members
of the House as we'll as fairly
large contingent of Democrats in
the Senate. If the Vice President
gets behind particular piece of
legislation or the amendment of
some existing reform law, the
chances of a majority coalition be-
hind him will be enhanced.
Candidacy a Challenge.
So, entirely apart from the effect
on the gathering of delegates, the
Garner candidacy is challenge. It
Is the most outspoken piece of
advice from influential Democratic
quarters, in effect asking the Pres
ident not to be candidate for a
third term Mr.. Garner has waited
a respectable length of time-until
virtually the beginning of 1940-be-
fore proclaiming formally his candi-
dacy. If the President had intended
to run, it will be contended, the word
might have come long before this.
So, from the standpoint of hostility
to a third term, the Garner mana
gers themselves will insist their step
takes for granted Mr. Roosevelt isn't
planning to run.
Somewhat the same strategy was
adopted the other day by Senator
Edwin c. johnson of Colorado in
behalf of the candidacy of Senator
Burton Wheeler of Montana. He
said in part:
Il do not agree that a man should
be forced against his will to run for
a third term. /" 1t is silly to
profess that there is an emergency
IN this country that demands the
nomination of Mr.. Roosevelt against
his will. 1t is not fair to him nor
to the country"
Thus the approach is one which
assumes Mr.. Roosevelt is disinclined
to run and is not a party to the
efforts TO the third termers to draft
him. Such an assumption permits
the other candidates to press their
case with the Democratic voters,
and, unless Mr.. Roosevelt himself
lends some word TO encouragement
to the draft movement" the man
ayers, whether of a conservative
like Garner or liberal like Wheeler,
will argue that Mr.. Roosevelt will in
the end be found supporting their
respective candidates if either is
nominated.
Ickes Without Party Standing.
The fact that Secretary Ickes saw
Mt to speak disparagingly of the
McNutt candidacy is not taken here
to have any real political signif-
canoe. Mr.. Ickes it not a Demo-
cratic leader but merely a part of
the New Deal. He has no standing
with the Democratic organizations
throughout the country, having
spent most of his life in the Repub-
lcan party. The Importance of a
announcement by Mr.. Ickes on a
political candidacy lies only in the
remote possibility that the White
House may have used him as spokes-
man, something that is being me-
ticulously denied.
The New Dealers here as a group
nave little political strength. They
showed that by their unsuccessful
campaign to purge" various men,
bers of the House and Senate in
the Democratic primaries in 1898
The nominating machinery is in the
hands of the regular organizations
IN most States. The local Federal
ohceholders might ordinarily have
played part in gathering in dele
gates, but under the Hatch law they
must be extremely careful to keen