Evening star., 1939-06-07
Roosevelt Unwilling
To Reply 10 Challenge
Of Likely Candidates
Avoids Comment About
Nomination; Keeps Third
Term Views to Himself

AASSPAA6 ilo GillIu-tCIuI LlCcIlClOIlS
strictly to himself, or at least away
from the professional political spec
ulators. President Roosevelt has
made 1t clear that, for the time being
at least, he is not planning personal
answer to the challenge of other
potential candidates for the Demo-
cratic presidential nomination.
increasingly emboldened as the
campaign year approaches, some
half a dozen prospects for the party
choice already have co-operated in
varying degrees as their friends
stressed their availability for the
supreme service to the country.
Openly in the running, according to
their friends, are Paul v. McNutt,
retiring high commissioner to the
Philippines, and Vice President Gar
ner. Standing close by are Secretary
OF State Hull, Secretary of Agricul-
ture Wallace, Postmosater General
Farley and others.
AS he has done in the past, the
President neatly avoided any signifl-
cant comment on the situation at q
press conference yesterday.
At the same time, he brushed
aside the implications contained in
the remarks of recent visitors to the
White House with the observation
that he is not responsible for door
step interviews"
In the latest doorstep remark,
Chairman E. H. Birmingham of the
Iowa Democratic Committee told
reporters yesterday he thought he
would support Roosevelt If he can
be prevailed upon to accept the
nomination" for another term.
The third-term question bobbed up
shortly thereafter at the Presi-
dents press conference, when Mr..
Roosevelt was asked whether he
had seen a magazine article in
which Secretary of the Interior
1ckes advocated that he run again.
The President said he had seen
only the headlines.
Mr.. Roosevelt denied any sig
niflance IN the fact that two Iowans
have been among the recent Wis
itors, former Gov Nelson G. Kras-
chel having preceded Mr. Birming-
ham, and that both gave doorstep
interviews" leaning toward a third
term effort.
With a facetious reference to
foolish questions, he ducked an in
quiry about what he thought of
Democrats going out now for the
1910 Presidential nomination.
Friends Of Vice President Garner
have said he would be in the run
ming and there have been reports
that Postmaster General Farley and
Secretary Wallace would seek dele
gates II the President is not candi-
date.
Mr.. Birmingham asserted that
after Mr.. Roosevelt. he would favor
Mr.. Farley or Mr.. Wallace-the lat
ter an Iowan.
How about Garner?' a reporter
asked.
I'm DONE" was the reply.
Mr.. Birmingham, like Mr.. Kras-
chel, said he did not discuss the
tnlrd-term question with the Presi-
dent.
The subject arose in the House late
yesterday when Representative Ken
nedy, Democrat, of New York advo-
Gated Mr.. Roosevelt's denomination.
saying the Democratic convention
next summer should ignore "the
third-term taboo"
Even though it has historical
basis" he said, 1T would be of para
mount consequence that we know
whether the country wants a con-
tinuance of the New Deal as devel-
oped by President Roosevelt"
With Mr.. Garner currently being
the principal Roosevelt threat
within the Democratic party, spas
modic Sniping at the Texan contin-
ued yesterday.
Maury Maverick, Mayor of San
Antonio and former ardent New
Dealer in Congress. came to WASH
ington for Federal money" and in
formed neWSpapermen that I'm 4
Texan all right, but not one of these
Garner Texans. And there's q hell
Of lot more just like me-"
Meanwhile, the Workers Alliance
w. P. A. union now in convention
here, adopted resolution condemn
ing the Vice President as represent
ing southern big land owners who
think only in terms of the exploita-
ton Of poverty-stricken mass of
the people"
On the Republican front, the only
development was call by Repre-
sentative Mason, Republican, of
Illinois for the nomination of SEN
ator Vandenberg of Michigan, to be
pre-pledged to one term only, with
New York's District Attorney
Thomas E. Dewey holding second