Evening star., 1940-07-09

Mr.. Farley'S David Lawrence.
comment are being seized upon as a
basis for deduction Thus it is
known the Postmaster General has
been opposed to third term for
the President. If Mr.. Farley, there
fore, said he had had a "satisfac-
tory" conference with Mr.. Roosevelt,
isn't it fair to assume that the Pres
ident has bowed to the wishes of
his hitherto principal political man
ager?
The answer must be in the mega
tive because Mr. Farley also said he
had talked frankly" and the Presi-
dent had talked frankly" which
would rather seem to indicate a
stalemate-Mr. Farley didn't con-
vince the President and Mr.. Roose-
welt didn't change the mind of his
Postmaster General.
Other straWs would seem to show
which way the wind blows. Mr..
Farley has for some time confided
to friends that he did not intend
to manage the Democratic national
campaign this year. This applies
whether Mr.. Roosevelt or some one
else is the nominee. So the gossip
about Mr.. Farley's possible affilia-
tion with the New York Yankees
baseball club would appear to be
founded on the knowledge that after
the coming convention, Mr.. Farley
will retire from public life here un-
less the convention nominates him
for the vice presidency.
Discussed Several Times.
1t is fact that Mr.. Roosevelt
has discussed the 1910 presidential
nominations with Mr.. Farley several
times. Mr.. Farley came to the con-
clusion that the President did not
intend to be a candidate and would
not accept the nomination if offered.
This was what prompted the Post
master General to allow his name
to be put up for the presidency In
various States, particularly in Mas
sachusetts.
Now it is true that the Postmaster
General has not talked at length
with the President about the third
term situation for many months.
Since then total war" has broken
out in Europe. Many Democrats
who previously were lukewarm about
the idea now have come out for a
third term for Mr.. Roosevelt. It
may we'll be that the President said
to the Postmaster General that he
Gid not want a third nomination
but would be guided by what the
convention delegates decided.
Thus 1T may very we'll happen
that the convention will name Mr..
Roosevelt and then he will decline
1t, after which the delegates will in
slst on his running by nominating
him even after he has declined,
thus making it the demand of a
party and draft movement. If
Mr.. Roosevelt at first declines and
then accepts, it will result in
dramatic effort to persuade the
country that the naming of Mr..
Roosevelt was not controlled by him
but was the free action of the con-
vention.
New Dealers Confident.
Nobody here feels very certain
about it except the New Dealers.
Almost as unit they exude con-
f1dence about the outcome. The
middle of the road Democrats and
also the other candidates are play
ing 1t safe. They are proceeding on
both assumptions-they will be
ready to Chamber aboard the band
wagon If the President indicates he
will accept and they will be ready
for the grand scramble if by chance
Mr.. Roosevelt is adamant in re-
3using the nomination.
One thing is certain. The New
Dealers control the convention and
have about 800 votes which will be
cast to name Mr.. Roosevelt. After
the nomination has been made,
some one-possibly Mr.. Farley-win
have letter from the President
read to the convention. After that
well, there's no telling what can
happen after the declination has
been expressed.
The vice presidency probably will
~ W ouoUiSc DouSldS. IL, on Ine
other hand, Mr.. Roosevelt doesn't
agree to run, the nominee may be
Attorney General Jackson for Pres
ident and Justice Douglas for Vice
President. This outcome is not ex-
pected by the Attorney General,
who firmly believes the President
will accept the nomination.
Difficult Part to Play.
Few men have had more diff
cult part to play than Mr.. Farley
in his joint role of chairman Of
the Democratic National Commit
tee and member of the Presidents
nohir,et Ae on ostIIte ,,o1itico1 y,oop.