Evening star., 1939-12-04
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
Senator Norris, Independent, OF
Nebraska has advised President
Roosevelt to refrain from declaring
his attitude toward a third term
now lest it split Progressive" groups
in a critical hour.
The Nebraskan's advice, given In
public statement yesterday, gave q
flying start to a week that will be
filled with presidential politics.
During the week the politically
minded will watch with special in
terest:
/. The first of a series of speeches
on national issues by Thomas E
Dewey, at Minneapolis Wednesday
The New York district attorney an
nounced last Friday he would be
glad to make the fight" for the
Republican presidential nomination
He has yet to disclose his views
on domestic questions except in q
general way.
2. A meeting on Thursday of the
Executive Committee of the Repub.
lican National Committee to dis
cuss plans for 1910. including cam
paign financing. organization, ten
tative proposals for a date and place
for the parI's national convention
this year, and possible foundations
for platform planks.
Gridiron Club Banquet.
3. Saturday nights winter banquet
of the Gridiron Club, which will
draw important political figures from
both major parties and provide an
opportunity for them to discuss
trends and personalities at many
informal parties on the side.
President Roosevelt will attend
and make an -the-record speech
Among Republicans expected are
ALI M. Landon and Col. Frank Knox
the 1886 Republican standard bear
ers. and Gov. John w. Bricker OF
Ohio, who has indicated he would
support Senator Taft of Ohio fol
the Republican nomination.
Taking note of recent clamor'
that President Roosevelt should tel
the country at this time whether
he would be a candidate for re-
election, Senator Norris said yester-
day that such demands came, with
few exceptions, from opponents oi
the Chief Executive and his policies
The Nebraskan added:
ut would be a sad mistake il
President Roosevelt acceded tt
these demands. There is no doubt
but that the President does moi
want to be a candidate for re-elec-
ton, and every honest citizen mus
sympathize with him in his desire
to take himself out of the contest
He has earned a rest"
Danger Pointed Out.
But Senator Norris asserted thu
Presidents fight for Fundamental
human rights" had not ended, thai
he was the ideal leader OF. the com.
mon man." and that if he were elm.
mated from the scene now no othel
leader could unite the progressiv,
people of America in a fight agains
a united. reactionary enemy"
The danger would be, he added
that the progressive element woult
be divided into groups which woult
go down to defeat in a convention
where the united opposition nigh
succeed in nominating a reactionary
or, at least. a candidate who wa
progressive only in spots'."
Senator Norris said the Presiden
owed it to his countrymen not Il
decide now the question whether h.
would be a candidate.
mo man can tell what may hap.
pen In the next several months" HI
said, but until the clouds of doub
and obscurity are cleared away, h.
should remain in a position where
if the patriotic spirit Of the country
demands it, he can still be the leader
of the liberal, progressive though
of the Nation.
'The welfare of our common coun.
try is far more important than tn.
wishes or ambitions Of any man o.
any group of men,"