Evening star., 1940-02-05
Third-Term Rubicon


easier for him. Indeed, he has but
to say the word, and who doubts that
the Democratic presidential nomina-
ton is his! Observe the galaxy of
delegates to the Democratic Ma
tional Convention already promised
him-delegates still to be named but
nevertheless pledged if the Demo-
cratic State organizations mean
anything.
In Illinois the party leaders have
filed petitions. amply signed, to place
his name in the presidential prefer
entail primary. Pennsylvania Dem
cratic State Committee Saturday
adopted unanimously a resolution
urging the President to be a candi-
date again-which virtually assures
the President the support of the
Keystone States delegation at the
convention. In New Jersey that
model of liberalism, Frank Hague,
has promised a Roosevelt delegation,
too. In far Alaska, the delegates
have already been pledged to the
Roosevelt candidacy. The Presi-
dents own State of New York can
be relied upon to send its huge dele
cation to vote for his renomination
Nothing, apparently, stands in the
way of a third-term nomination,
unless it be Mr.. Roosevelt's own self
restraint. George Washington, first
President of the Republic, exercised
such restraint, otherwise he doubt
less would have been continued as
President third term, or until his
death. It was Washington's firm
belief that there should be limit
to the duration of Executive power
in the hands of any one man. He
was closer to the war which won
freedom for the United States from
the rule of kings. Other Presidents
of the United States-Jefferson
Johnson and Coolidge-have exer-
cised the same measure of self-re-
straint. Theodore Roosevelt sought
a third term, but not third con-
secutive term in the White House.
General Grant also sought third
term-or his friends did-but that,
too, was not third consecutive term.
Neither Grant nor Theodore Roose-
velt-the one the great Civil War
general and the other the originator
of the square deal'-could win a
third nomination for President at
the hands of the Republican party.
Possibly, with the power of Federal
patronage and the control of the
Federal Government in their hands,
they might have won such a nomi-
nation at the close of their second
terms. Certainly Calvin Coolidge
might have been renominated had
he "chose" to run in 1928.
Now there is no doubt in the minds
of any Democrat-or very few of
them-that Franklin D. Roosevelt
can have a denomination if he will.
Whether he could have reelection
and a third term in the White House
is a horse of another color. Many
Democrats doubt that he could be
reelected this year.
His denomination would have two
results-and probably many more.
First, it would give to the Repub-
lcians hitherto untried, but per-
haps effective issue, at time when
the American people are fed up with
the idea of dictatorship or anything
that approaches it. Second, it
would split the Democratic party
despite the fact that many claim
such would not be the case.
Apparent from the start as 1t has
been, the demonstration by Demo-
cratic leaders in the great key States
of the Union in recent days has
shown conclusively that Mr.. Roose-
welt may be renominated. The
third-term movement draft or
otherwise in full tide and run
ming strong. So far the President
has let it run If he believes he
should not be a candidate for re-
election, he must do something to
halt the band-wagon rush or he will
be confronted with the necessity of
refusing a presidential nomination
and placing upon the final nominee
of his party the onus of being second
choice-a not agreeable nor politi-
cally wise situation for any candi-
date. In fact, such nomination
would strike sour note.
The President, if he wishes, can
have his name withdrawn from the
Illinois primary-provided he does
not wait too long; the primary takes
place April 9 and if he waits beyond
a certain date, he may not take his
name off the ballot, once it is on.
He can, if he wishes, easily tell Mr..
Hague and other party leaders, in