Evening star., 1940-03-20
Silence on Third
erm Defended
Writer Believes Roosevelt
Should Not Forfeit
His Influence

To the Editor of The Star:
trust that am not too presumptuous
when say that the coming months will
find America and Americans facing one
of the most crucial periods in the history
OF the body polite. In the first place
this is an election year and that in
itself always lends considerable degree
| OF responsibility to the already confused
and intangible atmosphere surrounding
US Domestic politics are in what might
be termed rut. Things aren't gong
right and no one seems to have a remedy
worth four bits at the corner drugstore
1t isn't bad enough that the budget
is out of balance, that we have upwards
of 100000 unemployed, that the farmer
isn't getting enough for his yellow
grains and cotton, but on top of all tins
war breaks out across the Atlantic
While statesmen on the continent hide
in their narrow shell, our President
sends two personal ENJOYS into the
maelstrom ir the fervent hope that
something may be worked out that will
save Europe and possibly western civil
llzatlon from the degradation that
prolonged conflict might bring.
But while our ENJOYS, Messrs Wells
and Taylor are performing their mis-
sion, we in America are centering our
attention or two phases of political
science, the intricacies and vicissitudes
Of international affairs and the political
jockeying around third-term issue in
our own back yard. And though these
two phases Of politics may seem thou
sands OF miles apart, physically, in
reality they are very much interrelated.
We hear on all sides, mostly from
professional politicians, however, that
President Roosevelt for the good of
party and country should now declare
himself on the question of a third
term. Their contention is that by re-
framing from doing so, he is only adding
fuel to the fire of confusion and tnat
such confusion is very unfair to the
electorate. not to mention disastrous
to the Democratic party.
Such arguments. in the opinion of
this writer, are sponsored by those who
are eager themselves to grab the high
seat without plan or purpose 1t
would be equal folly for Mr. Roosevelt at
this crucial stage of the game to make
| his intentions known. The whole wo, Id
is looking to the President of the United
States as a possible mediator for peace
and tranquility. 1t is certainly no over
statement to say that he is the voice Of
the entire Western Hemisphere rs re-
CARDS the International picture For
Mr.. Roosevelt, therefore, to make known
his intentions now on the third term
would be A shameless abdication of his
| influence as the head of the greatest
democracy on the face of the earth
How long do you suppose the power
politicians of Europe would listen to
this man in the White House if they
were sure that after January 3, lJ41,
he would no longer be our Chief Execu-
tive?
1t has been mentioned on various &C.
caSions that if peace conference could
be brought about, out of it might be
evolved federation of powers involving
all the principal nations of the eastern
and western hemispheres, with the log
ical choice for first president of the
world being Franklin Delano Roosevelt
While this suggestion has been put forth,
it is not likely that such a development
will take place in the immediate future
1t would remove Roosevelt from the
domestic scene, however and that, no
doubt, would be some relief to the Re-
publicans who now are fearing that they
may have to meet the peoples cham
pion" once more in a bout for the
Presidency.
BENJAMIN r. sTICKNEY, Jr.
March IL.