Evening star., 1940-01-17


States News, of which this corre-
spondent happens to be the editor,
stated that Mr.. Roosevelt had reach
ed decision to announce at given
date that he would not seek the
nomination for third term.
Mr.. Roosevelt was pressed to COM
ment and he jocularly remarked that
evidently the reprint privilege on
the article was a new technique of
making money. The President did
not know that the press associations
and newspapers which asked about
reprinting the article in question
were gwen the privilege without any
fee or charge, in accordance with
the usual courtesy that prevails in
such matters. But at the time 1t
seemed to the President about as
good a way as any to throw the
questioners off the track and get rid
of the query. He did not deny or
affirm the statements in the article.
The President is unlike any of
his predecessors in the White House
in that he permits impromptu ques-
tioning on almost any subject and
often he adopts the lighter vein as
the best defense for the moment.
Mr.. Roosevelt fences with the press
better than any other President, and
his press conferences are a most en-
toyable institution.
Public Interested.
In a sense, it is bit presumptuous
to print anything about the third
term nomination, for the comment
cannot but be somewhat embarrass-
ing and in these days of tremendous
events abroad, the less politics men,
toned perhaps the better. But the
third term riddle is one that the Ma
ton insists on talking about and
every magazine and newspaper finds
its readers inquiring for the latest
information or inference or analysis
thereon, because the question of who
Is to head their Government Is
matter of more than passing interest
to the American people.
The writer did not happen to be
the author of the article in the
United States News. but satisfied
himself as editor before printing it
that the men who developed 1t had
learned the answer to the third
term riddle from the few hereabouts
who really know it.
The article did not say Mr. Roose-
velt would not be nominated, but
did point out that Mr.. Roosevelt
would seek publicly to eliminate
himself, after which there would
be a draft-Roosevelt movement.
The article went on to mention
January 20 or March 4 as two spe-
cific dates on the calendar on which
an announcement would be made,
the second date marking the end
OF Mr.. Roosevelt's seventh year in
the White House. Mr.. Coolidge re-
vealed his plans on the anniversary
of the day he took the oath OF
office.
There are some well-informed
sources in the Capital here who
feel that the Presidents decision
may become known before March
4, but that he will choose not to
seek the nomination appears now
to be a foregone conclusion. Post
master General Farley is being
quoted this week as having said
to a group of students at Columbia
University that the President would
run only If drafted which corrobo-
rates the view that Mr.. Roosevelt
will make 1t plain he does not seek
denomination.
Coolidge Statement Recalled.
There are many on Capitol Hill
who insist that silence on the part
Of Mr.. Roosevelt will give encour-
agement to draft movement and
that even If he eliminates himself
by public statement, he will be con-
sidered for the nomination anyhow
until he definitely says he will not
accept if nominated. 1t is pointed
out, however. that Mr.. Coolidge
never made that fateful statement,
and yet his wish was respected by
the national convention of his party
Mr. Roosevelt could adopt the same
attitude. Looking at it from the
standpoint of those who want to
draft the President, statement of
remuneration is prerequisite be-
cause the spontaneity of draft
movement depends upon the salts
factory elimination of an apparent
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