Evening star., 1940-01-17
Florida Delegation
To Back Third Term,
Pepper Predicts
Ohios 81 Votes
To Go to Roosevelt;
Gonnett Will Run
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
A prediction that the Florida
delegation to the Democratic Ma
tional Convention would back Presi-
dent Roosevelt for third term
came today from Senator Pepper,
Democrat. of Florida.
His statement, made soon after
an announcement that Ohio dele
gates would be in the Roosevelt
camp if their "favorite son." Sena-
tor Donahey, failed to develop
strength. kept the Capital talking
about the draft-Roosevelt move
ment.
Senator Pepper said he believed
that Florida Democrats would elect
IA delegates who were friendly to
the President and would support
him or any man of his choice, al
though they would go to the con-
vention without official instructions.
The Republican list of presiden-
tial contenders was enlarged by the
announcement of Frank Gannett,
Rochester, N. Y. publisher, that he
WOulQ Dt CdIlulUdJt.
Gannett Rival of Dewey.
Mr.. Gannett's candidacy presages
fight for New York's 90 votes in
the Republican National Conven-
ton. Thomas E. Dewey, New York
County district attorney, announced
his candidacy several weeks ago.
In discussing the third-term
question, Senator Pepper told re-
porters:
The President will be in a good
position to step out at the end of
his term. He will have unified his
party and he will have a glorious
record behind him. But the shoe is
on the country's foot now because
of the war in Europe, and I believe
that the country will want to draft
him for a third term"
At Columbus, Ohio, Arthur Linz
bach. State Democratic chairman
said yesterday that Ohio's So con-
vention votes would be pledged to
Senator Donahey as the States ia
vorite son" but would be cast imme
diately for Mr.. Roosevelt if there
was first-ballot swing to him.
Plea Withheld From Record.
Friends of Senator Donahey said
he had given them to understand
that, while he had made no public
announcement, he regarded Mr.
Roosevelt as the logical choice OF
the convention.
At the same time there were re-
ports in the Capital that quiet ef-
forts were being made to obtain
indirect Endorsements of the draft
Roosevelt movement from Senators
who had not expressed their views.
One such Senator, who asked to
remain anonymous, said he had re-
ceived three letters advocating that
the President be reelected. To
each, he added, was appended a
note asking him to place the let
ter in the Congressional Record.
This Senator said he had de-
clined to do this, believing that by
such action he would be giving at
least tacit Endorsement to a third
term.
Roosevelt Parties Query.
At MIR. Roosevelt's press confer
ence yesterday, a reporter called the
Presidents attention to an article
in the United States News, a pub
lication of David Lawrence. This
article said that the President would
announce on January 20 or March
4 that he does not choose to run
for third term.
Mr.. Roosevelt laughingly inquired
whether the article was copyrighted
and whether other papers had
picked it up and paid for the priv
ilege. He added that it was slick
technique on Mr.. Lawrence's part
"a new way of making money.
Mr.. Lawrence said later that all
those who asked permission to use
the story were authorized to do so
free Of charge.