The Wilmington morning star., 1940-06-19
WASHINGTON
DAYBOOK
BY JACK NM

WASHINGTON, June 18-Capital politicians
are specializing on the possibility that the ca.
reer in national politics of 71-year-old (cone
November 2) John Nance Garner is ever.
If so, they explain, the vice-president will be a
victim of the war in Europe.
Here's the way they reason: Even if a third
term race by President Roosevelt isn't e Ger.
tainty, the Democratic choice will be some one
designated by the President.
Although Cactus jack strung along with the
New Deal in It's infancy, he hasn't been too kind
to it in its latter years. By open declaration
against the third term he has eliminated him.
self as a possible running mate on a New
Deal slate, be it President Roosevelt Or someono
else.
Consequently, whatever numbers the dice
for the time being.
Maybe this is so, maybe it isn't. I'm only pas
sing along what p%oliticoes here are saying.
Angling For Second Place
In the realm of Democratic politics, one thing
is certain: the men who were in the field for the
Presidency a few weeks ago are now angling for
second place on the ticket-admitting openly that
they have no interest in opposing Roosevelt
even if it's a third term that he's running for.
This isn't quite universal but almost so, and
even those who most vigorously fought the third
term idea have either become silent or only half
heartedly opposed in the face of the internation-
al crisis and the overwhelming Democratic con-
fdence in the President.
Bushy-browed, horn-rimmed Garner still won't
say a thing one way or another. But even he,
through his friends and hackers. is leading a
political ace in the hope that President Roose-
welt will forgive all and won't trump it.
The ace in this case, is the theory that the
administration should be continued status quo.
II we shouldn't change lead horses in the middle
OF the stream, then we shouldn't change wheel.
horses either. If we shouldn't change Presidents,
then why change vice-presidents?
The political wiseacres, however, are shaking
their heads. There's too much talk IF McNutt,
Hull, William o. Douglas (for a man to step
down from the Supreme Court to be vice presi.
dent would be another precedent hatterer), At
torney-Genera Jackson, Stark (of Missouri), and
half a dozen others. With a few exceptions. these
all are younger men. more closely allied with
Roosevelt policies, or more important geoyraphi-
cally. The political wiseacres shake their heads
and say unless Jack can pull another ace from
the pack, he'll have to go into the convention
with that one about why change horses and
that amt enough to beat a good pair
Wanted To Divide Texas
Vice-President Garner came to Washington in
l9o2, from a district which he himself (n the
Iexas legislature) had carved out in a year of
reapportionment One of his favorite measures
IN the Texas legislature was a bill to divide Tex
as into five states, thus giving the south a much
larger representation.
In Is congresses and through two terms as
vlce-president, Garner has been a Washington
figure for 80 years. AS minority leader in the
House, he was a great opponent and great friend
of Speaker Nicholas Longworth.
Chief prop through his 45 years of political
activity has been Miss Ettie,' known less fam.
ilarly as Mrs. John Nance Garner. Once he ad.
monished her gently after a speech she made at
a banquet in their honoor: Nov, Elite, you do
the work and I'll do the talking"
If the Carriers should have to hang a sign on
the door Of their hotel suite after the end of the
present congress: rGone to Texas" it won't
mean, as it originally did, that new fortunes
A to be sought. Even conservative friends
estimate Gamers fortune at a million or more.