Evening star., 1940-07-09
No Secrecy Pledge
In Third-Term Talk,
Farley Declares
Says He and President
; Thought 1t Best Not
To Reveal Decision
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, July 9.-James A. Far
ley reported today that both he and
President Roosevelt thought it
best" to keep the Chief Executives
views on the third term question
confidential"
The chairman of the Democratic
National Committee was asked at
press conference what the President
said at their parley in Hyde Park,
N. Y, last Sunday.
Il won't add anything to the story
I told the neWspapermen at Hyde
Park" Mr. Farley replied.
Asked if he had been pledged to
secrecy, Mr.. Farley said:
II wasn't asked to keep it secret,
but both the President and l thought
it best to keep confidential what we
said to each other. 1t seems to me
that everyone wants to read the last
chapter of the book first. We're
going to have a convention here and
! hope it will be an interesting one"
Position Unchanged.
Mr.. Farley thus indicated that Mr..
Roosevelt's attitude on the third
term would remain a subject of spec
ulation for an indefinite period, un-
less the President announces his
plans.
A reporter inquired whether Mr..
Farley's own name would be placed
in nomination during the national
convention opening next Monday in
the Chicago Stadium.
My position" he said, remains
unchanged"
Declining to elaborate, he said he
would leave it to newsmen to in
terpret his position.
1t was recalled that he stated last
March that his name would be pre-
sented to the convention. He has
cast no light on his intentions in
recent weeks.
Asked if he would consider run
ming for Vice President, Mr.. Farley
stated:
Il think it would be very foolish
OF me to discuss the vice presidency
before it was offered to me. AS
chairman of the Democratic Ma
tional Committee, can't take Sides"
Six-Day Convention Forecast.
The party chairman said the con-
vention might last six days.
I'm sure we'll finish up our de-
liberations by Saturday night" he
states. Probably We'll begin NOM
mating Thursday"
He announced that Speaker
Bankhead would deliver the key
note address Monday night and
that Senator Barkley, the perma-
nent chairman, would speak Tues
day night.
Commenting on reports that
Senator Barkley might forego the
usual speech, Mr.. Farley said:
Il think it highly essential that
he make a speech. The country is
waiting for it,
In Washington Speaker Bank
head disclosed his keynote speech
would be comparatively short and
full of punches. He said it would
not take him more than 80 or 40
minutes to deliver it.
Speech Already Written.
The speech, the Speaker told
i1ewspapermen, already has been
written but will be given a little
polishing" before the convention
opens. The administrations national
defense program, he intimated, will
be a major theme.
Speaker Bankhead plans to leave
for the convention late Saturday.
Meanwhile, preparations for the
convention, which opens Monday,
went forward. Activity at national
headquarters quickened. Ann and
Betty Farley, daughters of the ma
tional chairman, were among those
at work there.
At Chicago Stadium workmen
were completing construction of the
speakers platform, press sections
and other facilities for the political
conclave. The huge indoor arena
was the scene of President RooSe-
velt's nomination in 1882.
Headquarters were opened in Loop
hotels by supporters of Vice Presi-
dent Garner of Texas and Senator
Wheeler of Montana. Both groups
insisted their choice for the nomi-
nation had an excellent chance,
provided Mr.. Roosevelt doesn't run.
E. B. Germany of Dallas, Tex, CO.
chairman of the Garner-for-Presi-
dent Committee, reiterated his belief
that President Roosevelt will neither
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