Evening star., 1940-02-10

date in the field. Under the prl-
mary law in Wisconsin, any one
can vote in any party primary he
or she desires. Therefore, this huge
block of voters-the Progressives-
can slide into the Democratic or
Republican presidential preferential
primary and play hob, if it wishes.
For example, the Progressives will
be at liberty to flock to the polls
on primary day to give President
Roosevelts slate of delegates big
vote-over the delegates of Vice
President John N. Garner. Or, If
they prefer, they can go into the
Republican primary and support
either Thomas E. Dewey and his
slate of delegates or Senator Arthur
H. Vandenberg of Michigan-and it
is within their right to vote for
a Taft slate of delegates, provided
the Ohio Senator eventually enters
the Wisconsin primary The Pro-
gressives, therefore, have a tre-
mendous mischief value, and can
make the real desires of either the
Democratic or Republican party of
the State look like 80 cents.
First Test of Strength.
The Wisconsin primary promises
the first test of strength for the
candidates for the presidential NOM
ination. since on the Democratic
side both Roosevelt and Garner are
entered. and on the Republican side
Vandenberg and Dewey will have
states of delegates, and there will
also be, in all probability. an "un-
instructed" slate. There is some
suspicion that Senator Taft may
hook up with the uninstructed slate,
and that his friends in the State
will work for that slate.
Senator Robert NJ La Toilette,
the outstanding political figure in
the Badger State. in the past has
been strongly opposed to third
term presidential nomination on
principle He was the author of
the anti-third term resolution
adopted by the Senate when there
was some talk of drafting the late
President Calvin Coolidge for re-
nomination in 1928. He has said
nothing at this time, however, re-
garding the present move to draft
President Roosevelt for third term.
Senator La Toilette comes up for
reelection this year. He will have
the nomination of the Progressives
beyond a doubt and observers in the
State believe he will be strong
enough at the polls in November to
win, even if the State should 60 Re-
publican in the presidential race,
and certainly so if the Democratic
nominee should win in that contest
The primaries for senatorial and
other nominations do not take place
until next September.
The Progressives and the Demo-
Gratis have played together in Wis
consin in the past to carry the State
for a Democratic candidate for Gov
ernor on one occasion-When Philip
La Toilette was defeated in a Re-
publican primary for the nomination
and to carry the State for Presi-
dent Roosevelt in both 1882 and 1896.
If they hook up again this year the
G. o. P. may have its troubles there,
even though the State swung over
to the Republican column strongly
in 1898. 1t is difficult however, to
pull off such a political alliance.
especially when the swing has been
toward the G. o. P. as it has been
in the last couple of years.
Test of Third Term Feeling.
With Vice President Garner and
President Roosevelt entered in both
the Illinois and Wisconsin primaries,
the country is going to have a
chance to see what the third
term Democratic feeling is among
the rank and file of the voters
qualified by what the Progressives
may do in Wisconsin. The Presi-
dent, of course, may decide finally
to have his name withdrawn in
both these primaries. In Illinois
the entry of his name may be chal-
lenged on the ground he has not
given his assent, although Mayor
Kelly of Chicago and other third
term boosters say they can get
along without his formal assent.
Failure of the President to with
draw from these primary contests
can have only one result-a- rising
belief among the voters that he is
really a candidate for third term
nomination. In justice to the Pres
ident it must be said he has done
nothing up to the present time to