Evening star., 1940-07-14
Party Leaders Expect
President to Accept
Convention. Draft
BY G.. GOULD LINCOLN,
Star Staff CORRESPONDENT,

CHICAGO, July 13.-The Demo-
cratic National Convention, which
assemblies here at noon Monday, is
on the verge of making history
the nomination of a President of
the United States for a third term.
Nothing short of firm statement
by President Roosevelt that he will
not run can prevent his renomina-
tion by the convention. Democratic
leaders here believe no such state
ment will be made in advance of the
nomination.
Still an enigma for the great mass
Of Democrats is what the unpredict-
able Mr.. Roosevelt will say after
he has been named.
Democratic National Chairman
James A. Farley has said he knows
the Presidents plans. He has been
as close-mouthed as an oyster. Sec
retary of Commerce Hopkins, close
confidante of the President and rec
ognized as the White House repre-
sentative, has been proceeding ap-
parently on the theory that Mr..
Roosevelt, once drafted" by the
convention, will accept the nominal
ton.
Never Asked Nomination.
While the leaders are convinced
that the President will send no
word to the convention prior to a
nomination, again there looms the
unpredictable Mr.. Roosevelt. He
still has four days more in which to
make known his attitude toward an
other nomination, before the ballot
ing begins.
One argument advanced in sup
port of the theory the President will
say nothing before nomination is
that he will then occupy a per-
fectly tenable position-that he
could not properly discuss, accept
or decline q nomination that had
not been offered him.
Despite the fact the President
has never said he desired renomi-
nation or intimated he would accept
such a nomination, there has been
no effort on his part to discourage
the instruction of delegates to the
national convention pledged to his
support
The logic, therefore. appears to oe
with those who claim he will run
II the convention calls upon his to
do so.
One Of the most ardent New
Dealers in the Senate tonight pre-
dicted that the President will make
no move whatever until the conven-
ton has nominated him. Since
more than TOO of the 1904 delegates
go into the convention pledged to
vote for his denomination, the NOM
ination, under those circumstances
Is assured.
Expected to Accept.
This New Dealer predicted further
that the President would then send
to the convention a message making
It clear he has in no way been a
candidate; that his preference would
be to retire from office at the close
Of his present term, but that if the
convention and the great mass of
people that it represents desire him
to continue, in the face of the crisis
now existing he will accept.
The anti-third term Democrats,
a small minority, have not yet
given up hope.
At least three names in addition
to that of President Roosevelt are
expected to go before the convention
those of Vice President Garner
Postmaster General Farley and Sem
ator Wheeler of Montana.
The anti-third termers hope that
q sufficient showing will be made
IN the votes cast for other candidates
than Mr.. Roosevelt to make it clear
to the country and to the President
that the party is not unanimous in
Its demand for a third term nomi-
nation.
The third-term brigade, on the
other hand, Is working to give the
impression that an irresistible draft
has forced the denomination of Mr.
Roosevelt.
Farley Urged to Continue.
In an effort to solidify the Demo-
Gratis back of the President. over
lures have been made by the third
termers, headed by Mr.. Hopkins.
1t has been reported, and it has not
been denied, that he has asked Ma
tional Chairman Farley to remain
as campaign manager and conduct
the battle for a third term for
the President.
Another report has it that the third
~
harmony, are seeking the consent of
Vice President Garner to run again
on the ticket with the President. Mr..
Garner is in Washington, and if any
such overtures have been made to
him, they have not been disclosed
here.
The theory back of all this is that
If Mr.. Garner and Mr.. Farley can
be lined up with the President, the
third term issue, SO far as the Demo-
Gratis themselves are concerned, will
become an extremely minor matter.
Mr.. Earle yhas given no indication
ne will fall in with such a plan.
Indeed, those who are close to Mr..
Farley insist he would not agree
to 1t. There is not the slightest
doubt that the national chairman is
exceedingly irritated by the manner
IN which he has been treated by the
New Deal inner circle, including
the President himself. Today. al
though he Is national chairman,
presumably In charge of all arrange
(see CONVENTION, Page A-63