Evening star., 1940-04-01

A9''N &@ - from noljtics.
Charles G. Ross. but there is
hardly anybody who believes that
If the nomination for the presi-
dency comes his way he will thrust
it aside
Mr.. Farley has Joined the ranks
OF the transformers for the presi-
dency. but none can doubt the
warmth of his affection and ad-
miration for Mr.. Hull or question
that If MI. Hull is placed first on
the ticket Mr.. Farley would be de-
lighted to be his running mate.
His Attitude Important.
If only because of his great in
f1uence among those who do the
spadeWork of the Democratic party,
the attitude of the Postmaster Gen.
eral and national chairman is pro-
foundly important. What this atti-
tude is can be told in few words.
On principle, he is against third
term. He believes that he himself,
on his record, has every right to
aspire to a place on the ticket He
is persuaded that the religious
prejudice which, worked so power
fully against his fellow Catholic,
Al Smith, would operate in his own
case TO far less effect Realist that
he is, however, he knows that his
chances TO be nominated for the
presidency are diminished by his
party's recollection of the Smith
debacle.
From what is known of Mr.. Far
ley's attitude the inference follows
that his active candidacy, while not
devoid of hope for the first prize, is
prompted primarily % by his de-
termination to have large, perhaps
the controlling, influence in the
choice among Hull McNutt, Wheeler
and the rest if Roosevelt doesn't
rum and ~ by his desire to build
up his own availability for second
place.
Like 1882 Tour.
Both these ambitions-to be a
dominant factor in the convention
and to come out of 1t with the
party's second highest aWard-are
clearly regarded by Mr.. Farley as
realizable and it is in pursuance of
them that he is making his trip
through the South and Middle West.
The trip may fairly be compared
to Mr.. Farley's pre-convention
lunketings in 1882 to build up
sentiment for the nomination of
Franklin Roosevelt. He is not going
out just for the purpose of laying
cornerstones, talking to postmasters
and stamp collectors. and, as at
Columbia, Tenn, glorifying the
American mule. As in 1882, he has
political bill of goods to sell and
this time it happens to be Cordell
Hull and Jim Farley himself. 1t is
conceivable that his tour will be as
fruitful as that of eight years ago,
for he remains flrst-rate salesman
and he has back of him now the
prestige of his cabinet position and
the national craftsmanship of his
party.
Whether or not the availability"
of the Secretary of State will con-
tlnue down to the time of the con-
vention Is question about which
it is dangerous to prophesv. Many
things could happen, including
turn in the war that would
strengthen the third-term move
ment and cause the President to
reverse his present apparent deci-
sion not to run again. The belief
grows here that he won't run-but
nearly all forecasts carry a hedg-
ing 'if' based on the war.
Hulrs Position.
AS to Mr.. Hull, this much can be
said with assurance: He is sitting
today in a highly strategic position.
The success. up to now, of his
trade agreements policy in Con-
gress has heightened his prestige:
without this success he would prob
ably be out of the running. AS
an established man who is depend
ent for the nomination on the good
will of rival factions OF the party,
he is making a shrewd campaign.
That rs to say, he is making no
campaign. / don't wish to imply
that he is doing this out of calcu-
lation; it merely happens that the
course imposed upon him by his
office and his own sense of dignity
happens to be the politically ex-
pedient course.
The friendly nod Of the President
toward the Secretary of State is
political asset of great value. but It
Is no more valuable in the peculiar
political circumstances OF today
than the vigorous friendship OF Mr..
Farley. You have only to read Mr..
Farley's Tennessee speech to see
how far that friendship goes. and
how 1t has excluded commitments
To other candidates.
Mr.. Farley, very plainly. Is carry
ing the ball for Mr.. Hull and he
has a good chance Of putting It over
the line. II remains 10 be seen
whether the quarterback IN the
White House will furnish tho neccs-
mry interference for the carrier,