Evening star., 1940-07-21
November. Election
May Well Depend
On Turn Of War
RooseveIt's Chances
Seen Enhanced if
Conflict Comes Closer
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

Inc 1940 preSldenClal campaign
has moved out into the open. New
Deal Roosevelt is opposed to anti
New Deal Willkie. The Democrats
have named a 100 per cent pro-
New Deal ticket. The Republicans
placed at the head of their ticket
the man who, to millions of Ameri-
cans, perSonif1es the New Deal op-
position.
Hanging like the sword of DAM
ocles over the political picture in
this country is the war situation
abroad. On the turn it takes may
depend the results of the national
election in November. The closer
war comes, the more likely a Roose-
welt victory. Should there be peace,
the entire situation In this coun-
try would be changed. Domestic
Issues might again be paramount.
Up to the present, Wendell l..
Willkie, the Republican presiden-
tial nominee, has differed very little
from the position taken by Presi-
dent Roosevelt regarding the for
eign policy of this country in the
face of the war in Europe. If he
continues to follow this course, the
most vital issue before the country
is removed, very largely, from the
campaign. Both men are demand
ing the utmost in national pre-
paredness.
Third Term Issue.
President Roosevelt is running
for third term in the White House.
He is the first President ever to
attempt third consecutive term.
This issue will be raised against
him more strongly, perhaps, than
any other-unless he should under
take steps which seemed to be lead
ing this country directly into the
European conflict.
Mr.. Willkie is the first public
utility magnate ever to be nomi-
mated for the presidency. He will
have to meet that issue, although
he has divested himself of the pres
idency of the Commonwealth Il
Southern Corp. Part of this issue
will be the label of Wall Street,
which the opposition already is seek
ing to tie to him.
No one can say today how deep
the third-term issue will cut-nor
how effective the utility-Wall Street
issue will be against Mr.. Willkie.
Many Democratic supporters will
leave the President because of the
third-term issue, as already indicated
by the desertion of Senator Burke
of Nebraska, Vance Mccormick,
Pennsylvania publisher. and Law
renee E. Nelson. who has withdrawn
his candidacy for the guoernatorial
nomination in Utah.
On the other hand, some Repub-
lican support and the support of in
dependent voters may be lost to Mr..
Willkie on the utility issue.
Harmony and Bitterness.
The Republican National Conven-
ton. after nominating Mr.. Willkie.
broke up in great harmony.
The Democratic Convention, on
the other hand, broke up in consid-
cradle bitterness, despite the fact
that the nominations of President
Roosevelt and the vice presidential
candidate, Secretary Wallace. were
both made Unanimous" by action
of the convention.
How far the Democratic revolt
against President Roosevelt and Sec
retary Wallace will go the next few
weeks are likely to show. Demo-
Gratis showing the greatest resent
ment up to now are Democrats who
have been opposed to Mr.. Roosevelt
in the past. Furthermore, time may
lessen considerably the feeling of
bitterness.
BY bringing about the nomination
OF Secretary Wallace for Vice Presi-
dent the President has turned to
the country completely New Deal
and so-called liberal face for the
Democratic party. In the last two
campaigns President Roosevelt had
with him on the ticket Vice Presi-
dent Garner, liberal enough in the
eyes of the old line Democrats, but
decidedly not 100 per cent New
Dealer.
Garner forgotten Man"
Mr.. Garner. so far as this Demo-
cratic Convention is concerned, has
been relegated to the class of for
gotten men. He has been regarded
in the past as focal point for the
rallying of anti-third-term senti-
ment. What he will do from now on
remains to be seen. He has always
been a regular Democrat. Post
master General Farley, who, like
Mr.. Garner, became a rallying point
for the anti-third termers at the
convention. has declared his inten-
ton OF supporting the Roosevelt
ticket.
The President on several impor-
tant occasions in the past has called
Tor new division of the electorate.
with all the liberals in the Demo-
cratic party and, conversely, all the
conservatives in the opposition
camp. He has done as much as he
could to help bring this about. He
has just finished dominating the
national convention in the interests
OF a hberalized Democratic party.
The convention adopted thorough
going New Deal platform and named
as Mr.. Roosevelt's running mate a
thorough-going New Dealer.
Mr.. Wallace is probably the only
one of the outstanding members of
the New Deal Inner circle" whom
the President could have imposed
upon the convention as vice presi-
dental candidate. He sold Mr.. WAL
lace to the convention leaders on the
ground that his nomination would
Offset the selection of Senator Nc
Nary of Oregon, the farmers
friend" by the Republicans to run
with Mr.. Willkie. He might have
had very difficult time for in
stance. putting over such a nomina-
ton for Associate Justice Douglas
Of the Supreme Court or for Secre-
tary of Commerce Hopkins.
To Stay Close to Capital