Evening star., 1940-07-20
The Political Mill
Convention Bossed by President in Big Way,
As Shown by SqueIchine Of Brief Revolt

only one raised against the third
term nomination. Representative
Ryan Of Minnesota, it Is true, tried
to get consideration Of a proposed
anti-third-term plank. He was al
lowed to offer 1t. It was not de-
bated, however. No one rose to
defend 1t. Chairman Barkley did
not ask II any one wished to discuss
1t. He put the question without
waiting a moment. With q roar OF
dutiful noes" the amendment was
knocked down.
The delegates had gone there to
renominate the President for a
third term. Every bit of power OF
the administration had been used
for months to make certain that
a huge majority of Roosevelt dele
gates would be- on hand. Roose-
velts name had been used all over
the country to forestall the use Of
other mems names as presidential
candidates. The third-term issue
had been settled. so far as the ma
jority was concerned, in advance Of
the convention. Yet many of those
who came to vote for the President
still wondered whether the third
term issue might not rise to plague
them In the future. Some wished
in the bottom Of their hearts that
Mr.. Roosevelt in the end might de-
cline to run.
The third term has become dead
issue within the Democratic party.
The party has accepted a third
term candidate. How many Of the
Democrats like Senator Burke Of
Nebraska will actually break with
the party's presidential nominee
and support Wendell Willkie, the
Republican candidate, is still ex-
tremely problematical, notwith-
standing the momentary rage on
the part Of some Democrats. Take
b the cases, for example, of the two
men who really did something about
the thirdterm issue at the national
convention. Mr.. Farley and Senator
Glass. Does any one see either of
these gentlemen breaking with
their party's national ticket because
Of the third-term issue? Mr.. Farley,
on the contrary. has been reelected
chairman of the Democratic Ma
tional Committee. If only to serve
for a month, and has declared he
will give loyal support to the ticket.
Senator Glass is expected to stay
right within the Democratic party
In Virginia and to give some kind Of
support to the Roosevelt-Wallace
ticket.
Party Politics First.
1t looks as though the opponents
of the third term In the Democratic
party had only been shadow boxing.
Party regularity may rise above
principle. This will not be true Of
all the anti-third- term Democrats
but how many will 60 the way of
Senator Burke? 1t may be that
when many of them enter the poll
ing booths and cast their ballots,
conscience may overtake them and
they will mark their ballots against
the third-term candidate. But that
time alone will show.
The point is that the convention
was one Of the most bossed conven-
tons Of great national political
party that ever was held and the
bossing came from one place, the
White House. The party wanted
him renominated. There was no
mistake about that. And since Mr..
Roosevelt understood this to be the
case, is it any wonder that he be-
came the boss?
The doctrine of indispensability
has been developed so far as the
Democratic party is concerned. This
is disturbing because many Demo-
Gratis who do not believe in the
policies of the New Deal and who
do believe that a third term Is
wrong and undemocratic are found
going right along with the Roose-
welt drive. Again party politics is
placed first and desire to win and
hold control of the Government
and to hold office Is Yielded to.