Evening star., 1939-07-08
The Political Mill
Democratic Candidates Running in Dork
Until President Declares Himself

might become 50 strong that the
convention would set its foot down
against q new Roosevelt nomina-
ton.
Strong Fight Predicted.
Already there has been more than
a hint of a real fight waged by
Democrats againA the Roosevelt
third term boom, despite the band
wagon rush Of some Of the princi-
pie New Deal ohiceholders. The
supporters of Vice President Gar
ner have put him in the field and in
sist he will be a candidate before
the national convention whether Mr..
Roosevelt Is one or not. Also Demo-
Gratis from the West are urging Sen
ator Wheeler of Montana as the
proper party nominee next year.
Mr.. Wheeler has said nothing, ex-
cept that he is candidate for re-
election to the Senate and that he
is against a third term for any
President, Mr.. Roosevelt included.
Should Senator Bennett Clark
seek the backing of a Missouri
delegation to the national conven-
tion, he too, could be relied upon to
stick it out against Roosevelt ef-
fort for denomination Senator Pat
Harrison already has been indorsed
by the Mississippi Democrats as a
favorite son candidate for the presi-
Dental nomination-and he is not
favorable to a third term for the
President Senator Tydings will do
his best to take an anti-third term
delegation to the convention from
Maryland.
If the President insists that the
Democratic party must take a can
didate of his choice-as, for ex-
ample, Harry L. Hopkins or some
other 100 per cent New Dealer
or take him, himself, as a candidate
next year, there is likely to be talk
in some Democratic quarters of a
compromise. The McNutt support
ers hope that the President will be
willing to turn to their candidate,
and that the more conservative
Democrats also will give him
break. They argue that Mr.. McNutt,
having been out of the country for
several years, Is not involved in
some of the most strenuous con-
troversies between the President and
other members Of his party in Con-
gress. That he should be accept
able to both sides. They see in his
willingness to defer to the Presi-
dent in the matter of the presi-
Dental nomination a winning ges-
ture.
McNutt Has Following.
The belief in McNutt quarters
that only with the aid of the Presi-
dent can Democrat attain the
presidential nomination and elec-
ton next year is probably respon-
slble for the fiat declaration by
McNutt that he will withdraw from
the race If the President runs. This
will make him friends, perhaps, in
the New Deal camp. 1t certainly
won't in the die-hard, anti-thir
term Democratic circles.
More and more strongly the idea
is put forward in White House and
inner New Deal circles that Mr..
Roosevelt is to be the candidate of
the Democratic party for President
next year. OF course, it is readily
admitted that "only the President
can say" But the impression which
is sought to be created is that the
President Is certain to be the nomi-
nee. A great deal of selfish inter-
est is involved in the effort to
create such an impression. And
whenever a Democratic head is
raised, as. for example, that of Mr..
McNutt, there is resounding rapid
fire of blows from those quarters.
If the President. however, disap-
points these followers of his and
does not become a candidate, Mr..
| McNutt is one of those aspirants
who must be reckoned with. He is
not just an "also ran" at this
stage of the game. He is probably
the most attractive candidate per-
sonally that has offered himself.
He has been national commander of
the American Legion. He has
great following among the teachers
of the country.