Evening star., 1940-07-19
The President Accepts

The President Accepts
President Roosevelt's speech in
acceptance Of third-term nomina-
ton, when stripped of its non
essentials, narrows down to a decla-
ration of his belief that he is the
one available man possessed of the
qualifications to lead this Nation
through period OF grave crisis.
The President last night revealed
that as recently as last September
he intended to announce that under
no conditions" would he accept re-
election. Gradually, as the war in
Europe progressed, his mind changed.
For reasons which seemed to him
sufficient he withheld announcement
Of his intentions, and it was not
until last Tuesday night, when his
denomination had been all but
assured, that he sent to the con-
vention what he calls "such decla-
ration" Of intent. But its tone had
altered. Instead of announcing
clearly and simply" that under mo
conditions" would he accept re-
election, he told the delegates at
Chicago, through Senator Barkley,
that he had no desire or purpose"
to continue in the Office of President
or to be renominated for that office.
Between these two declarations there
is a vast distinction-the difference
between almost certain retirement
to private life and denomination for
a third term.
Mr.. Roosevelt rests his change of
mind upon the dictates of conscience,
upon the conviction that, in the face
of the danger which confronts us,
mo individual retains or can hope
to retain the right of personal choice
which free men enjoy in times OF
peace" That is an admirable state
ment of citizens duty to his coun-
try in time of crisis. But this senti-
ment is not easily reconciled with
his recent declarations that nothing
in. our present emergency justiies
the sacrifice or modification of the
social gains'-the higher wages and
shorter hours-of the New Deal; that
these, in fact, may even be extended.
A similar change of heart is reflected
by his proposal, as a matter of duty,
not to make an extended campaign
so that he might remain close to the
White House, in constant co-opera-
ton with Congress, whose members,
he said; have been compelled to
forego their usual adjournment by
the added tasks which the present
crisis has imposed. He is correct
in approving the decision of Congress
to remain in session, although that
does not quite harmonic with the
fact that only last month he indi-
Gated his desire that the legislators
wind up pending business and
adjourn.
But aside from these seeming in
consistencies, Mr.. Roosevelt's address
was a skillful statement and there
can be little question of its political
pulling power" Having accepted
the nomination in the obvious belief
that his party had no other qualified
candidate available, the President
then dismissed the Republican
nominee in these words: 1T our own
Government passes to other hands
next January-untried hands, mex
perienced hands-we can merely
hope and pray that they will not
substitute appeasement and COM
promise with those who seek to
destroy all democracies everywhere"
This, parenthetically, is statement
which indicates that the President
will not accept too literally the
gesture Of appeasement in the for
eign policy plank of his party's plat
form.
Mr.. Roosevelt, in a spirit Of self
sacrifice and resignation, has drawn
the issue Of his own indispensability.
AS he so accurately states it, only
the people, under the American
system of free elections, can draft a
President. It is for them to decide
whether, by experience and other
qualifications, Mr.. Roosevelt is the
one man to lead the Nation through
the difficult four years that lie
ahead. And in making that decision
the people should not overlook the
fact that the issue, as drawn by Mr..
Roosevelt, is not limited necessarily
to the present. If the emergency is
still with us in 1914, which is by no
means improbable, will his added
experience then lead him to believe
that he is even more indisnensa hle