Evening star., 1940-02-04
Illinois Petitions
Enter Roosevelt
In Primary
Candidacy Statement
Lacking, No Light
Shed on Third Term
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, Feb. 3.-Pe-
titions to enter President Roosevelt
In the Illinois presidential prefer
ence primary were filed today, but
they afforded no answer to the moot
question whether the Chief Execu-
tive would seek a third term.
The unheralded action was taken
by Chicago Democratic leaders
shortly after Thomas E. Dewey en-
tered the primary and his State
spokesman challenged other Repub-
lican contenders to get into the
race.
The petitions for Mr.. Roosevelt,
bearing $4,000 signatures, were
brought to the Office of Secretary of
State Edward j. Hughes. They shed
no light on the Presidents inten-
tions, however. because they we're
not accompanied by the customary
signed statement of candidacy.
CAT the temporary White
House in Hyde Park, N Y, the
news evoked only a terse no
comment" Most Washington
politicians predicted that if Mr..
Roosevelt's name went on the
Illinois ballot there would be no
other Democratic entries, as
serting that Paul v. McNutt, the
Federal security administrator;
Senator Wheeler, Democrat, Of
Montana, or Secretary Hull cer-
tainly would not oppose their
chieftain)
Predicts Name on Ballot.
Mr.. Hughes predicted the Presi-
dents name would be printed on the
ballot submitted to voters in the
April 9 primary-one of the earliest
in the Nation.
He concluded that signed certif.
cate-required by law from candi.
dates for nomination or election
would not be necessary in the pref
erential referendum because such a
vote is purely advisory and does not
bind delegates to the national con-
ventions.
However, he told reporters that
the question of placing Mr.. Roose-
velt's name on the ballot would be
decided officially at meeting of the
State Certifying Board early in
March. Members of the board are
Mr.. Hughes, Gov. Henry Horner and
State Auditor Edward j. Barrett,
all Democrats.
The petitions we're circulated and
signed by members of the Chicago
Democratic organization in ward
meetings last Sunday. They were
sent here by messenger.
Voters Expression Desired.
In Chicago, Thomas Garry, SER
geant at arms of the Cook County
(Chlcago) Democratic Committee,
said they were filed "in the name
OF the Democratic party of the State
at the suggestion of the Cook County
Democratic Committee" He said
party leaders wanted to get the Pres
ldent's name on the ballot ito obtain
an expression of the voters senti-
ment." 1t was unnecessary, he
added, to have a declaration from
Mr.. Roosevelt.
Previously, Mayor Edward j. Kelly
OF Chicago, Democratic National
Committeeman P A. Nash. Gov.
Horner and other party chieftains
had urged Mr. Roosevelt to seek
denomination. The Mayor was a
recent visitor at the White House.
Leonard c. Reid of Chicago, man.
ager of Mr.. Dewey's campaign in
Illinois, filed the New York district
attorneys petitions and stated:
I'VE hope that all other Repub-
lcan candidates for the nomina-
ton will do likewise in order that
the delegates may be advised not
only as to the choice of the voters
for the first place but for the Sec
ond and third place as we'll. The man
who is nominated by the delegates
to the Republican National Con-
vention as the Republican candidate
in 1910 must be the choice of the
people if the party is to be sue
cessful in November"
So far no other contender has
announced an intention to seek the
Endorsement of Illinois Republicans
at the polls in the primary
Senator Taft of Ohio told report
(See PRIMARY, Page AID