Evening star., 1940-01-25
The Political Mill
New Deal Hope Of United Labor Front for
Ticket CIouded by Lewis Prediction

ceQeral security AQm1nlSCfatOr raul
" McNutt, former Governor of
Indiana. He dubbed Garner q
leader of renegade democrats" and
McNutt. political adventurer. BY
implication Secretary of State Cor
dell Hull was rejected as q presi-
dental candidate because OF his
handling Of the reciprocal trade
agreements.
The c. I. o. leader is making 4
bold bid for a part in framing the
Democratic platform Of 1910 and
selection of the party candidates
for President and Vice President.
The only one of those prominently
mentioned for the presidential NOM
ination whom Mr.. Lewis has given
his blessing is Senator Burton X.
Wheeler Of Montana. Wheeler has
several times announced his belief
that no President of the United
States should have a third term
and yesterday he went on record as
saying that If the President were
renominated it would be extremely
difficult" to re-elect him.
Wheeler Is the only one Of the
presidential candidates who has
been invited to address the con-
vention Of the United Mine Work.
ers. now meeting in Columbus.
Lewis political support is not an
unmixed blessing in these days,
when the c. I. o. has attained a
considerable degree of unpopularity,
particularly in the Midwest-and
even In Pennsylvania, where the
United Mine Workers are strong.
Nor is his opposition without GER
tain redeeming features.
Waters Are Muddied.
The New Dealers have been hoping
for united labor front for their
ticket next November. Their de-
nunciation by John l.. Lewis helps
to muddy the waters. In the past
the administration has been charged
again and again with favoring the
c. I. O. over the A. F. Of l.. And
the A. F. Of L., in part, at least, has
been lukewarm to the administra-
tion, particularly because of the
alleged favoritism Of the C. I. o.
by the Federal Labor Relations
Board. Whether Mr.. Lewis attack
on the President and his admins
tration will throw the A. F. of L.
back into the arms of Mr.. Roose-
velt remains to be seen.
While Mr.. Lewis was attacking
the third-term idea on the Colum-
bus front, Postmaster General James
A. Farley, speaking as chairman of
the Democratic National Committee
at a meeting in Winston-Salem, N.
c.. last night, uttered some cryptic
sentences that were interpreted in
some quarters here as meaning he,
too, was opposed to third term
nomination of Mr.. Roosevelt. These
sentences were seemingly dragged
into a speech which had all the
earmarks of an utterance of q preS-
dental candidate-Mr. Farley him.
self.
Said Mr. Farley: "I also want to
make 1t clear that If at any time
l am confronted with the issue OF
the welfare of my party, on the
one hand. or the welfare of my
country on the other, that that
issue has already been decided. l
love my country better than l love
the Democratic party. 1t is my
constant hope that I will never be
confronted with such an issue, but If
1t should come in this hour of in
ternational chaos. I owe too much
to America to sacrifice my first 10y
atty upon the altar of party expedi-
ency or party fealty."
Nevertheless, it was predicted by
persons close to Mr.. Farley that,
even though he did not approve
third term for President, he would
support Mr.. Roosevelt if nominated
and that If it seemed that Mr..
Roosevelt alone among the Demo-
Gratis had a good chance of win
ming, he would support his renomi-
nation. That is the practical side
of politics.