Evening star., 1940-02-26

settled unequiv-
~ ocally by the
House. and the
Charles G. Ross. prospect is good
that the Senate will follow suit. The
action on the trade agreements
stands out like lighthouse In fog
Of confusion over other issues.
For a great many persons there
will be additional satisfaction in the
thought that the man politically
advantaged by the prospective con-
gressional approval of the trade
policy is Cordell Hull.
The President, too, derives an ad.
vantage, for the Hull policy is one
that he has taken to his heart in
his recent pre-occupation with for
eign affairs. But the gain to the
President on top of his other re-
sources as a candidate-if he is Q
candidates. slight. He doesn't need
it. The gain to Mr.. Hull may be
considerable. It does not by q long
shot warrant the prediction that
the Democratic convention, with the
approval Of Mr.. Roosevelt, will nom.
mate the Secretary of State for
President, but it clearly adds to
that possibility. It gives Mr.. Hull
chance for his white alley, whereas
without the approval of Congress
on his trade policy he would be un-
done.
One Major Certainty.
The one major certainty in q po-
litical situation clouded beyond all
precedent Is that Mr.. Roosevelt can
get the nomination II he wants it.
This is becoming more evident every
day. All that the President needs
to do is to sit tight. He may even
be nominated in the face of q state
ment by himself that he wants to
retire.
All speculation as to candidates,
therefore. must proceed from the
premise that Mr.. Roosevelt will take
himself out of the race with state
ment too strong and fortnight to be
ignored, or that, having been nomi-
mated, he will decline to run.
Either of these events is possible.
The persistent failure Of the Presi-
dent to declare himself out, and so
make the running easier for others,
has heightened belief in Washing
ton that even though he genuinely
desires and expects to go back to
Hyde Park at the end Of his present
term, he wants the refusal of the
nomination. In this theory, he
would make d magnificent gesture
OF remuneration that would add to
his stature In history and increase
his hold on the country It might
happen-the theory is wholly ten
| able.
If 1t be assumed that Mr.. Roose-
velt, In one way or another, will
eliminate himself, then the ques-
ton arises as to whom he will try
to name as his successor. Here is
room for speculation without end.
1t may be that he is hoping for the
denomination Of himself as a means
of creating an emotional tide on
which he can float his man to the
goal. Attorney General jackson,
perhaps. Or Supreme Court Justice
Douglas. On one of these, 1t is gen.
orally believed, Mr.. Roosevelt would
drape his mantle If he could.
| Under the circumstances de-
scribed, 1t is conceivable that he
might succeed. As matters stand,
however, political opinion runs
strongly to the view that the Presi-
dent, powerful though his influence
will be, cannot hope for an unre-
strained choice Of his successor at
the head of the party. He cannot,
that Is to say, successfully will the
transfer Of his strength to another.
If this is true-and all political ex.
perience indicates that 1t is-then
Mr.. Douglas and Mr.. Jackson must
be counted out.
Points for Hull.
Here, say the friends of Mr.. Hull,
Is where the Secretary of State
comes in. They make out q plaus-
ible case. For one thing, there was
the trial balloon which Mr.. Roose-
welt sent up little while ago
through conversations with visitors
at the White House. He threw out
the idea that Mr.. Hull as No. I
man and Mr.. Jackson as No. 2
would make fine ticket. True 1t is
that he has thrown out other ideas
as well, and that the Hull sugges-
ton may have been made with the
purpose Of setting up the Secretary
as q target for the third termers.
There are cynics who so believe.
There Is better reason to believe, in
the light of Mr.. Hull's character
and standing, that the purpose was
friendly.
| In evaluating Mr.. Hulls chances,
1t also is to be noted that the war
has given new and tremendous I'M
portance to the foreign relations Of
the country. Mr.. Roosevelt and Mr..
Hull have worked together. It ID
q reasonable assumption that II Mr..
Hull should be elected President,
Mr.. Roosevelt would be given the
chance, should the occasion arise,
to play . large role In the recon.
struction Of the world after the war.
There also Is the fact Of National
Chairman Farley's warm admira-
ton for Mr.. Hull. II Mr.. Farley
can't get the nomination--and he
probably cant-he would unques-
tionably like . Hull-Farley COM
bination.
Mr.. Hull's age Is . handicap, but
the points Of his availability" add
up to . total that Is making him
more and more talked about.
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