Evening star., 1940-03-26
The Political Mill
Why Is Farley Only One Of the Condidotes
Asked to Resign Position Of Influence?

arrangements Tor the partys ma
tional convention, which Is to be held
in Chicago July Is. Furthermore,
the committee is making the myriad
plans which national party or
ganization must make in the spring
preceding national campaign. Mr..
Farley is the key man. Furthermore,
he is the man who knows what and
when and how. He has built the
organization strongly and he is ex-
pected to make it still stronger to
carry on the coming campaign. His
retirement from the Craftsmanship
at this date might leave things at
skies and sevens-and be a real in
jury to the Democratic party.
Succession Would Be Problem.
If Mr.. Farley resigned from the
national Craftsmanship, another man
would have to be chosen. President
Roosevelt, as titular head of the
party, would be expected to select
the Farley successor. Would it be
fairer for him to place an ardent
third termer in the chairmanship-
ready to support Roosevelt for re-
nomination-than for Mr.. Farley to
retain the Craftsmanship? Obvi-
ously 1t would not. Or the Presi-
dent might appoint a man ready
to do his bidding and support the
Roosevelt selection for President.
Mr.. Farley, according to best in
formation obtainable, has no inten-
ton of resigning. He was first des-
ignated for the post by President
Roosevelt back in 1882. He was
elected by the national committee
Immediately after the Chicago con-
vention which nominated Mr..
Roosevelt for the first time. He was
reelected by the national commit
tee in 1885. Only the national COM
mittee could oust him now-and
there seems no slightest probability
that such a thing will happen.
A slate Of Farley-pledged dele
gates has now been entered in the
Massachusetts, primary. Similar
states may be entered in other
States. Mr.. Farley may seek dele
gates at various Democratic State
conventions called to name the
delegations which will go to the
national convention. But that is
no more than is being done right
now for President Roosevelt and
for Vice President Garner and other
candidates. Yet none of these can
didates Is stripping himself of Office
and influence. Just the reverse, if
anything. Attorney General Jack
son, for example, recently has been
given higher omce-with the intent,
it is said, of building him up for
the presidential nomination.
The Question of Fairness.
In some quarters it has been sug-
gested, too, that Mr.. Farley should
resign from the cabinet, on the
theory that as long as President
Roosevelt, his chief, is a potential
candidate for denomination, it is
not fair for Mr.. Farley. who has now
come out openly as a candidate in
his own right and not a stalking
horse for the President, to remain
in the Presidents official family. No
such resignation suggestion has been
made, however. In connection with
Secretary Hull. Attorney General
Jackson or Secretary of Agriculture
Wallace, all Of whom have been
mentioned as presidential possibili-
ties. 1t Is true that none of them
has declared himself q candidate
no matter whether President Roose-
welt runs again or not.
If the President desires to be rid
of Mr.. Farley he has merely to tell
him so, and his resignation from
the cabinet would be Immediately
forthcoming The President, how
ever, has never said he desired to
be renominated or that he himself
is making ready to run. Mr.. Farley,
therefore, is certainly at liberty to
believe that the President has no
s1lch intpntion-llntil the President