Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-12-25


with no such Charles q. Ross.
fateful decision as that faced by
the President in relation to third
term.
Unlike Secretary of State Hull
and Vice President Garner, If the
finger of destiny. strangely. should
begin to turn his way, he would
have no fear of rejection on the
score of his age.
No Loyalty Flaw in Record.
Unlike Senator Wheeler, who
fought the court scheme tooth and
nail, he has no flaw in his record
of allegiance to the Roosevelt pol
icies-no errancy to which the Pres
ident could point as the reason for
fishing trip on election day if
Jim should be nominated.
Unlike the New Dealers from
whom the President would choose
to pick his successor. he is liked by
the Glasses, the Hulls and the Gar
ners of the party.
Unlike Senator Bennett Clark, he
can be troubled by no thought of
what might have been. for the star
Of his political fortunes has risen.
not declined Il doubt that Sena-
tor Clark is so troubled, though GER
tainly he would be if the convic-
tons which have set him apart from
the White House were less sincerely
heidi
Thus it is that Mr.. Farley, ex-
cept as he may suffer unease from
the third-term threat, can look into
the political future-at least up to
the time of the Democratic nomi-
mating convention-with an unhar-
ried mind. He would like to be the
nominee for the presidency-as who
of those VINO have been mentioned
would not?-but he is not deceiving
himself as to his prospects. He Is a
complete realist in politics. He
knows the heavy political disability
that the fact of his being a Catholic
lays upon him. If the lightning
strikes him, we'll and good; if not,
ne will continue without soreness
to do what he conceives to be his
duty as a good Democrat.
Slim Chance for Nomination.
Has Mr.. Farley chance to be
nominated for President? Yes, but
the chance is slim. There is no
doubt that membership in the Cath
Ollie church would weigh >. far less
heavily against him than it did
against Al Smith. Too, it is to be
remembered that there were other
large factors that contributed to
Smiths defeat But the fact re-
mains, unpalatable though it may
be to those who would leave a can
didate's religious faith entirely out
side of consideration, that the DEM
ocratic party is extremely unlikely
to send Catholic at the head of
the ticket into the next campaign.
This is not to say that Mr. Farley
probably would be chosen if he were
not a Catholic There are other
hurdles in his way. But even if he
were far more available" than he
is. the fact that he belongs to q
minority religious faith would prob
ably be sufficient to put him out of
the running.
Mr.. Farley, however, is man who
will bear watching, and this not
merely because he is the Demo-
cratic national chairman and be-
cause he will have large say-so in
the choice of the head of the ticket
He will bear watching because, in
the opinion of many observers of
politics, he has top-notch chance
TO win the nomination for Vice
President. That chance will 60 by
the board if Mr.. Roosevelt Is nomi-
anted, for both Mr.. Roosevelt and
Mr.. Farley are from New York. The
Constitution does not forbid the Sc
lection of a President and Vice
President from the same State, but
that is the practical effect of the
provision that the electors of State
must choose at least one of the two
from the outside. The Democrats
are not going to white down in adj
vance the electoral votes of their
Vice Presidential nominee.
But if Mr. Roosevelt Is not nomi-
mated to head the ticket. Mr.. Far
ley's points Of availability makes him
likely prospect for second place.
Some of these points have been
named. There is also the fact that
he is from New York, a pivotal
State. There is the fact of his great
personal popularity among Demo-
cratic politicians of all degrees
throughout the country. There is
the fact. if editorial expressions are
any guide, that great many people
who once thought of Mr. Farley only
as a political spokesman have come
to like and respect him. Mr.. Farley
Is politician and makes no bones
about it. His complete lack of pre-
tense is one of his most engaging
qualities. What you hear about him,
pretty generally, is that he is
Square shooting politician" and a
good administrator.
It won't be at all surprising if the
Democratic convention. after pick
ing a presidential candidate, decides
that Jim Farley would add strength
to the ticket and puts him on it.