Evening star., 1939-12-16
The Political Mill
Inner Circle New Dealers Busy Seeking
'Uninstructed' Delegations for Strategy

sylvania. which Topped back into
the Republican column in the 1888
elections. All these reports are be-
ing circulated avidly by the New
Dealers who wish the President to
run again.
Different in 1892.
In 1882 Mr.. Roosevelt and his
campaign managers were strongly
opposed to uninstructed delegations
to the Democratic National Con-
vention of that year. They wanted
the delegates instructed for Roose-
velt-and they went after them
hammer and tongs. The argument
advanced in those days was to the
effect that the people should be
heard, not only in the selection OF
delegates. but also in instructing
the delegates for whom to vote in
the national convention. That was
the Democratic way" in the pre-
convention days of 1882.
But now all this is changed. The
administration group-the insiders
who believe that the President
should be renominated or should
at least dictate who shall be the
party nominee-is seeking to have
uninstructed delegations sent to the
1910 convention. The democratic
thing, it appears, is to have Mr..
Roosevelt pick the next presidential
nominee of the Democratic party,
whether it be himself of another.
After all, comparatively few of
the big States have favorite-son
candidates. on the Democratic side
OF the fence, favorite sons who
would be in entire sympathy with
New Deal ideas. For example,
Pennsylvania, Illinois, California,
New Jersey, Ohio, Maryland, Mis-
souri,, Massachusetts,, Wisconsin,
Nebraska, Oregon have none of
record. Ohio may send a Donahey
delegation, Maryland Tydings
delegation and Missouri Clark
delegation. But they would not
gladden. a 100 per cent New Deal
heart.
Some "FavOrite Sons"
Indiana will, of course, send Nc
Mutt delegation, pleasing perhaps
to some of the New Deal group
but not to Secretary Ickes or prob
ably to Messrs. Corcoran and Co.
hen. Texas will name a Garner
delegation, pleasing to none of the
out-and-out New Dealers. New
York's delegation, the largest in
the convention. will be either a
Roosevelt delegation or Farley
delegation
Unrestricted delegations from
many of these populous States-un-
less they should be clearly Roose-
welt delegations-would therefore fit
more closely into the New Deal pic
ture. The argument is sometimes
advanced that if the great majority
OF the delegates to the national
convention should go uninstructed
they would be in a position to pick
the best candidate" They would
also be in a position to be impressed
by the big wigs in the administra-
ton when it comes to- voting for
candidates for the presidential nom
ination.
In the presidential preferential
primary States it will be difficult to
get uninstructed delegations-al-
though in some it may be done.
In fact. these presidential preferen-
tlal primary States may upset a lot
OF apple carts-both for the Demo-
Gratis and the Republicans. For
there is a considerable group of
Republicans who also are urging
that delegates to the national con-
vention be uninstructed. Those are
the party leaders, who hope-just
as the New Dealers hope on the
Democratic side-to be able to domi-
nate the convention and dictate
finally the presidential nominee.