Evening star., 1940-02-17
The Political Mill
konsos Democrats, Agreeing on Roosevelt, Moy
Solve Allegiance Through 'Fovorite Som Woodrine

the running, would prefer Secretary
Of State Cordell Hull or Vice Presi-
dent Garner as a presidential candi-
date to Federal Security Administra-
tor Paul v. McNutt. Attorney Gen.
eral Robert H. jackson or Senator
Burton K. Wheeler. But they have
not committed themselves to any Of
these candidates, nor will they do 50
at this time, 1t is said
Personally, Secretary Woodring Is
on most friendly terms with all the
potential Democratic nominees. The
McNutts are friends Of long stand
ing. Attorney General jackson and
the Secretary OF War are close
friends, and so with Secretary Hull.
Secretary Woodring is to go to
Kansas to make the principal speech
at the Democratic gathering there
on February %, Washington's Birth
day. It has been a custom for thirty
years or more to hold big Demo-
cratic rally on that date, just as the
Republicans hold big party get
together on January 29-the anni-
versary Of Kansas statehood.
Should Secretary Woodring be-
come a favorite son candidate in
Kansas, it will be with other favorite
son candidates in several States. Un-
less present plans fail, the Democrats
in Ohio will send favorite son dele
cation to the national convention,
backing Senator Vic Donahey.
Speaker Bankhead OF Alabama will
be the favorite son candidate Of his
State. Postmaster General Farley
may have the backing of the New
York delegation, Secretary of Agri-
culture Henry A. Wallace that Of the
Iowa delegation, and Paul McNutt
will undoubtedly have the backing
of the Indiana delegation.
Anti Third Termers Confused.
More and more convinced are
most of the Democrats-the vast
majority of them-that President
Roosevelt can obtain the presidential
nomination If he decides to have 1t.
His silence has created such con-
fusion in Washington and elsewhere
that the anti-third term Democrats
have been entirely unable to CO.
operate and form an anti-third
term alliance. Indeed, SO demoral-
lied are the anti-third term ranks
and leaders that it looks as though
the President will be able to say
to the national convention when
1t meets: Take this candidate
for example Attorney General Jack
son or Justice Douglas Of the Su-
preme Court-"or take me-" Many
of the leaders have insisted they
would never agree to the nomination
Of either Jackson or Douglas.
Members of the Republican Ma
tional Committee are firmly con-
vinced, they say, that the President
will be candidate for third term.
While some of them believe he will
be the most difficult man to defeat
on the Democratic side, they say
1t is not because Roosevelt is 50
strong. but because the other candi-
dates are SO weak-blighted in their
growth by the Roosevelt silence.
None of them has been in a position
for a national build up. If Mr..
Roosevelt had made it clear he was
not to be candidate, then 1t would
have been possible for the Democrats
to groom effectually one or more
other candidates for the nominal
ton.
Republican National Chairman
John Hamilton took the Roosevelt
bull by the horns at yesterdays
meeting of the G. o. P. National
Committee and challneged the
Democrats to renominate the Presi-
dent. His speech to the committee
men, broadcast as it was. was a
keynote for the anti-third term
campaign which the Republicans
expect to wage
While the Democrats in Kansas
are working along in harmony to-
ward the partys national conven-
ton, those in the neighboring State
of Missouri are showing anything
but harmony. The forces of Senator
Clark and Gov. Stark are engaged
in a bitter fight over the control
of the States delegation. Gov.
Stark has gone right along with
the Roosevelt third termers, while
Senator Clark has been a bitter foe
of the administration on many oc-
casions during the last two years.