The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-15
WASHING ON
DAYBOOK
BY PRESTON GROVER

WASHINGTON, Jan. 14~.-Vice-President Gar
ner is putting the bee on fellow candidates to
follow his example by announcing for the presi-
Dental nomination regardless Of whether Pres
ident Roosevelt seeks a third term.
He has suggested to Postmaster General Far
ley and Senator Wheeler of Montana that if
they wish to court the favors of Dame Democ-
racy they ought to give her an opportunity to
"cuddle up" without fear they will run if
Roosevelt comes into the picture.
Report has it that only a few minutes be.
fore the Jackson day dinner in Washington.
Garner twitted Farley about his half and half
candidacy and suggested that he address the
assembly as Fellow Candidates"
Farley did exactly that and got a great burst
out of the hundred ollara-plate guests. How
ever, Garner people do not accept this little
pleasantly on the part of Farley as any indi-
cation that he is "all out" for the nomination
Nor has Wheeler made any statement which
even approximately rivals the 48 word state.
ment by which Garner put himself on the dot
ted line.
OF course, it is not dumb politics for Mr..
Garner to try to get more candidates in his
corner. Several candidates taken in the mass,
would constitute a solid stop Roosevelt bloc.
That would be more soup in Gamers bowl.
because at present he is, willy nilly, a stop
Roosevelt movement all by himself.
ECcleS TO senate!
A little sister to the third term mystery is
whether Mariner S. Eccles, federal reserve
board chairman and inventor Of part of the
new deal will run for the senate in Utah.
Senator King, a foe of much Of the new deal,
is up for reelection. Several possible candi.
dates are in the picture. Utah has adopted a
general primary since King was nominated last,
so it poses a new strategy, both for himself
and his opposition.
A constellation of minorities might stop King
in a convention, but in a primary it simply
would divide the opposition and virtually assure
his nomination. That is the picture Eccles sees.
Our information is that he has authorized
certain prominent democrats in Utah to de-
termine whether he can have the field to him.
self against King. If he can, and further re-
search indicates he has a fair chance to up
root King, he will enter the race, SO our in
formant has it. He won't enter the field just
to divide the opposition to King, who has prov
ed himself a formidable candidate in times
past.
Defense Attacked
Reactions in congress indicate that President
Roosevelt, the army and the navy have not
worked the best possible strategy in seeking
more money for naval and army upbuilding.
There is far more unannounced opposition to
the increased defense program than finds its
way into print.
Strategic tumble number one appears to have
been the scheme for saddling the defense pro-
gram with the burden Of a special defense tax.
Members who were not bold enough to come
out in the open and fight a defense program
Of itself are finding the tax scheme a platform
from which to hit at both.
Further, there were samples Of wrath at
what some members felt was an effort to hide
a 81, 900, 900 appropriation to begin development
Of Guam as q more useful military base. 1t
didn't show up in the budget. Not until Ad-
miral Stark, chief of naval operations, was
testifying before the house naval affairs COM
mittee Gid it pop out.