Evening star., 1940-07-23
Congress Murmurs
OF Anti-Third Term
Democratic Revolt
Definite Action Hinted
With Reform Within
Fuvored Over Walk
By G. GOULD LINCOLN.

mounted today among congressional
Democrats.
What action, if any, will be taken
by these opponents of third term
mas not been determined. The
thought expressed by one Demo-
cratic Senator. not yet ready to be
quoted, was that the revolt would
not take the form of a "walkout," f"
but would come from within. Such
a spirit of revolt, he said, would
probably be more detrimental to
the third-term ticket than any other
form.
Senator Smith of South Carolina
has announced he will not support
the Roosevelt ticket, but he has not
said he would support Wendell Will
kie, the Republican nominee.
Senator Holt of West Virginia is
considering bringing before the Sem
ate his proposed resolution voicing
the sentiment of the Senate against
third term for any President. Sem
ator Holt is strongly opposed to the
reelection of President Roosevelt
He withheld this resolution during
recent months, at the request of
other anti i-third-termers in the up
per house, on the theory that if it
we're overwhelmingly defeated the
third-termers would be given a
boost.
Would Injure Ticket.
Now the situation is somewhat
different. The President has been
renominated. If a dozen or 18
Democratic Senators should vote in
favor of the anti-third- term reso-
luton, it would be a black eye for
the Roosevelt ticket, even if great
majority of Democrats opposed the
resolution
Senator Glass of Virginia spoke
IN the Democratic National Con-
vention against third-term nomi-
nation when he placed Postmaster
General Farley's name before the
convention for the presidential
nomination. He has not said, how
ever, he will not support or that he
will bolt the Roosevelt ticket. His
colleague, Senator Byrd of Vir-
ginia, is running for reelection this
fall on the same ticket with the
President. The chances are he will
do little, however, for the national
ticket.
No one has been entered in the
race against Senator Byrd, Repub-
lican or Democrat. The Democrats
abandoned their primary since there
was no opposition to Mr.. Byrd and
he has the nomination by default.
The Republican State Convention
left it to the State Committee and
Its chairman to pick a candidate to
contest with Senator Byrd, if later
1t seemed advisable. A candidate
must be put up 80 days before the
election, if any contest is to be
made against Senator Byrd.
Await Developments.
Democratic Senators here are
watching with interest the develop
ments that may come from the
projected anti-third term Demo-
cratic gathering which has been
called by former Senator James A.
Reed of Missouri to meet in Chi
cago. They are doubtful, however,
that it will result in an attempt to
nominate an anti-third term Demo-
crat for the presidency to run
against Mr.. Roosevelt and Mr. Will
kie-unless some young and vigor-
GUS Democratic leader can be found
to take the nomination.
The feeling was expressed that, if
no third nomination is attempted,
enough Democrats who are opposed
to a third term will either vote
quietly for Mr.. Willkie or will stay
away from the polls to bring about
Mr.. WILKES election.
The situation in Democratic ranks
was described as somewhat similar
to that which existed in 1923, when
former Gov. Al Smith of New York
was the party nominee for Presi-
dent At that time, a few of the
Democratic leaders in the South
came out definitely against Mr..
Smith, among them former Senator
Fef1in of Alabama and former Sen
ator Simmons of North Carolina
But a huge number of Democrats
voted for Herbert Hoover, the Re-
publican candidate, in that election
and four of the Southern States
were carried by Mr.. Hoover, not to
mention the great bulk of the States
In the North and West.
The revolt against Mr.. Smith
among the Democrats at that time
was conducted quietly. They went
to the polls and voted for the Re-
publican presidential ticket without
any demonstration.
In the 1928 campaign, nearly al
of the Democratic leaders in the
South and elsewhere, went down the
line in support of Mr.. Smith. Thai
was true in the cases of Senators
Glass and Byrd. The latter wa:
then Governor of Virginia. The
rank and file of the Democrats re.
volted.
If now the leaders, or an appre.
ciable number of them, are luke.
warm and do not work for the
Roosevelt ticket, the rank and fill
of the voters may be even more
likely to revolt, on principle, agains
q third term nominee.
May Feel Free to Bolt.
1t was pointed out today tina
Democrats have been told so Otter
that party regularity means little
by the Roosevelt administration
that they may feel much freer tt
bolt the ticket this fall.
The Associated Press today quoted
three Democratic Senators VIII
have opposed the third term OF
principle, as saying they INTENDED
to vote for President Roosevelt
again in November. They are Sena
tors Van Nuys of Indiana, Adam
of Colorado and Wheeler of Mon
tana.
They disclosed their attitude ii
talking with reporters, Senator Val
Nuys adding, however, that he wa