Evening star., 1940-04-24

tions take place and hence any i'm
preston that he has undertaken
scheme to line up sentiment for
third term is hardly logical.
Some time ago, while discussing
1910 politics and the possibility that
the Democrats might nominate
reactionary candidate, the President
remarked that he might under such
circumstances take trip to Alaska
during the campaign. 1t is to be
noted that the announcement of a
21-day tour is coupled with the
tentative statement that, if Euro
pean conditions permit, the Presi-
dent might continue on up the West
Coast to Alaska. A few days ago
Mr.. Roosevelt in his only political
speech in long while emphasized
again that he wants the Democratic
party to nominate pair of liberal
candidates. If his support is de-
sired, the party will have to make
the kind of nominations he wants.
Draft" Move Discounted.
There are, of course, many observ-
ers here who feel that MIR. RooSe-
welt is preparing for the draft" and
that his westward trip will give
him an opportunity to appear before
crowds and demonstrate to the
doubling Thomases that he still has
a strong hold on the people. 1t will
be noted, on the other hand, that
the Presidents trip is largely
through Southwestern States, where
he needs neither delegates nor votes
in a campaign for reelection.
So far as the third term idea is
concerned, the President may well
be in receptive mood if European
developments cause an internal
crisis here, but each day that passes
brings indications that Mr.. Roose-
velt expects to see some one else
nominated. He is naturally eager
to see a Democratic victory next
fall, and he will not hesitate to
take an active part in the coming
campaign, not merely backing up
the nominee if he is liberal, but
pounding away at the Republican
nominee, too.
Thus the coming presidential con-
test will be most unusual in that it
will have the President as an in
tegral part of the whole campaign
strategy. He will have much to say
about the way the fight will be con-
Quoted. He will not retire until
after. the election, and it is doubt
full even then whether he will cease
to be vocal on issues which he
thinks represent the difference be-
tween liberalism and conservatism.
Another aspect of the forthcom-
ing presidential trip is that the
President Is anxious to see Con-
gress adjourn by June /. His ankle
ty arises from fear that If Con-
gress stays on legislation may be
passed and put up to him for veto
which will give the Republicans too
much campaign ammunition. Like
wise the sooner the members of
Congress get back home the more
chance the incumbent members will
have to build up their fences
against Republicans out of Office,
who have been campaigning al
ready.
Can Answer G.. o. P. on Tour.
If anybody wonders why the
President made up his mind to 60
on tour of the country in June
he may we'll ask what else Mr..
Roosevelt might have done. The
President certainly did not feel like
sitting in Washington while the
Republicans were lambasting him
at convention time. He wants to
debate with them at every oppor-
tunity. His formal addresses doubt
less will be non-poltical except for
the occasional bit of implicit DO
litical argument in which he likes
to indulge. But between stations
back platform comments and in
formal statements can be used to
answer Republican attacks.
The President is definitely going
to be in the midst of the campaign
both before and after the conven-
tions, even if he is not the nominee
of the Democratic convention.