The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-21
ROOSEVELT WILL
| MEET LANDON
CONTINUED from Page y

Landon said In h speech ut Tope-
ka, Kans., Sunday night that he OPP
posed q coalition cabinet behind Mr..
Roosevelt. His conference With Mr..
Roosevelt then was pending.
The mere discussion OF q coalition
aroused political comment based
largely on statements Of persons
associated with Mr.. Roosevelt that
an emergency might--or must
bring about his denomination.
white House Silence
with the Democratic National
Convention less than two months
away, Mr.. Roosevelt has said moth
ing publicly Of his political inten.
lions. Some Of his associates are
bitterly disappointed by his silence.
Others are juhilant In belief that
denomination now cannot be
avoided.
The third term boom sounds loud
or daily as the European crisis de.
velops. Close to 900 delegate votes
In the Democratic convention al
ready are more or less pledged TO
Mr.. Roosevelt and 10 more will be
added today when New Jerseys
delegation Is formally selected. Only
O bare majority Of 64s delegate
votes Is necessary to nominate.
Substantial coalition would de-
pend primarily on the support OF
such men as former President Her
bert @. Hoover, All M. Landon, the
1895 presidential nominee, and Col.
Frank Knox, Chicago publisher who
was on the ticket with handon. The
/ tNAf
Knox was offered the navy secre-
taryship last week. Knox would not
comment on that report. The navy
post shortly Is 10 be vacant when
Secretary Charles Edison resigns TO
run for governor OF New Jersey.
GO r Hates Coalition
Republicans contend that a Goa
lition move would jeopardize the
two-party system, that national
emergency requiring o coalition Goes
not exist and, finally, that for Re.
publican leaders to join Mr.. Roose-
Yelt's cabinet would In practice tend
TO establish his political hold on the
country and, possibly, increase third
term chances.
Most Of the Republican presiden-
tial candidates, likewise, object TO
coalition with the New Deal. Sen.
Robert A. Taft, r., O.. argued In st.
Louis that the situation does not
warrant a coalition movement
Wendell L. Willkie, the public util.
tiles executive whose campaign Is
developing more strength than
practical politicians expected, plead
ed with m audience mot to fall
for this talk Of coalition govern
ment."
I'VE must VIM Willkie said, ITO
take out OF office incompetents and
mere phrase makers"
I'm very much opposed TO the
coalition theory" assistant Senate
Republican Leader Warren r. AUS
tin said. zone OF the strongest
safeguards OF our form OF demo.
cracy Is the two party system. TO
destroy minority Is to open the
door for abuse OF power by one par
ty."
Two-Party System Needed
House Republican Leader Joseph
w. Martin, Jr, said:
" think X ever there was a time
for o two party system, II Is now.
A coalition cabinet would be O
drift toward o one party system.
The Republicans can be counted on
10 do the right thing under o two
party system"
In the cautious words Of Austin
and Martin are hints OF the fears
Republicans have o continued New
Deal government and Of Mr.. Roose-
velt's personal political intentions.
That fear Is reflected to some OK.
tent In the Democratic party. But
the presidents silence and the not.
able support gathering now behind
his national defense policies COM
bine to make him 50 dominate the
party that he can have renomifa.
tioia merely by keeping quiet. Re-
spc'ls'ble party leaders concede that
10 DO q fact and opposition Is dimin-
ishing accordingly.