Evening star., 1940-04-26
Friends Say Wheeler
Would Reject Bid
For Vice Presidency
But Thomas Declares He
Would Love to Run
With President
Nv the ASsociat ted presx

BY the Associated Press
A definite statement by friends of
Senator Wheeler, Democrat, of
Montana that he would not accept
the Democratic vice presidential
nomination put a check today on
capital speculation over a possible
Roosevelt Wheeler ticket.
Senator Wheeler himself has said
repeatedly that he was not available
for second place, but recent callers
at his Office have led some Demo-
Gratis to believe he was being sounded
out for the vice presidency on a
third-term ballot.
Senator Wheeler has an invitation
to see President Roosevelt on the
latters return to Washington. The
Montana Senator, who was the late
Senator Robert La Follette's run
ming mate on a third party ticket
In 1924, is expected to seek the
Democratic presidential nomination
If Mr.. Roosevelt does not run.
Thomas More Receptive.
But another Western Senator was
more receptive to vice presidential
discussion. Senator Thomas of Utah
said that he would "love to run with
the President and battle for his
cause in the West"
Senator Thomas, recently indorsed
for the vice presidential nomination
by the Utah Democratic Convention,
said that Westerner should be on
his party's ticket.
While Democratic speculation con-
tinued to center on Mr.. Roosevelt's
Intentions, new Republican presi-
dental possibility-Gov. Arthur H.
James of Pennsylvania-was ready
to strike what some party men
described as the keynote of his pre-
convention campaign.
James Speaks Tonight.
Gov. James, elected for a four
year term in 1898, will address the
Indiana Republican Editorial Asso-
citation at Indianapolis tonight. 1t
will be broadcast (over an N. B. c..
hookup at 1890 p.m0, and Penn
svlvania Republicans here expressed
the belief that it would include an
indictment of the New Deal.
Gov. James was not entered in his
home States presidential primary
Tuesday when Y convention dele
gates were selected. While not
pledged to any one, these delegates
are expected by leaders here to go
for the Governor as "favorite SON.
despite the 6-to-1 margin registered
for Thomas E. Dewey by write-in
voters in that primary.
Both parties arranged today to
pick more convention delegates
8 at large for each party in Illinois,
II Republican in Mississippi and 4
Republican in Missouri.
Philippine Republicans Chosen.
Philippine Island Republicans
chose two uninstructed delegates at
Manila yesterday.
Exclusion of Senators George and
Russell from the pro-R Roosevelt dele
cation named yesterday by the
Georgia State Democratic Commit
tee caused some surprise among pol
iticians here, but neither Senator
would comment.
In some Georgia quarters it was
said neither Senator was particu-
larly interested in being delegate,
although it was customary for them
to be named.
Both Senator George, who won
denomination two years ago despite
presidential opposition, and Senator
Russell had favored a State primary
instead of manipulating the dele
gates by the party committee.
The delegates-72 in all, who will
cast "a votes as unit-adopted a
resolution saying sit would seem as
unwise to deprive ourselves of the
asset of our Army and Navy or air
force as to deprive this Nation of
the asset of Franklin D. Roosevelt"