Evening star., 1940-03-17
6. Q. P. Uncertainty 4
And d[-Tern Issue
BecIoud Outlook
No Republican Condidote
Far Enough Aheod for
Forecast Of Victory
BY q. GOULD LINCOLN.

puU1IC&u pKS6AQeuLlAl NOMINATION Ii
sufficiently far out In front to war
rant prediction Of his victory. In
deed, the word which comes from
many States-and from many visi-
tors to Washington-is that senti-
ment has failed to crystallize in any
marked degree for any Of the can
didates.
The Democrats have . little more
time In which to make up their
minds whom to nominate, as their
will not open until July
Is. Up to the present, however, the
third-term drive has almost OBJ
scured all other candidates.. The
fact that 1t is well understood that
President Roosevelt has only to say
''yes" to make certain his renomi-
nation at the convention has acted
like dry rot on other candidates..
With the President remaining
silent about his plans, the situation
In the Democratic party is just IS
today-so far as q presi-
Dental nominee Is concerned-as it
is in the Republican ranks. This is,
Of course, contrary to the assertions
Of some Of the third-term boosters,
who insist Mr.. Roosevelt will be
drafted"
Opposition In Own Party.
The President, however, will not
be drafted without certain amount
of opposition from his own party
not As long as Vice President Gar
ner continues to assert that his
name will be brought before the
convention whether or not the
Presidents is placed in nomination.
There have been rumors that Post
master General Farley, hitherto the
Presidents right-hand man in DO
litical campaigns, also would oppose
. third-term nomination. Mr.. Far
ley, however, has continued to in
sist he believed the President would
not run again. He has abstained
from declaring for or against q
third-term nomination, feeling no
statement could be made with pro-
priety when the President has not
stated his own position In the mat
ter.
In st. Patrick's Day address at
Memphis, Tenn, last night, Gov
Stark Of Missouri took occasion to
praise Secretary of State Hull, q
native Of Tennessee. as "the greatest
Secretary of State that We have ever
had" Mr.. Hull, while keeping as
far away from the presidential race
As possible, nevertheless has been
widely discussed as q probable nomi-
nee If President Roosevelt is not a
candidate.
mo one knows the names of the
candidates who will seek the presi-
dency in 1910 under the banners OF
the two major parties" Gov. Stark
said. Your guess Is as good as
mine on that, but my faith in the
Democratic party and in its leader
ship, like your own faith, is solidly
grounded on past accomplishments
Whatever the decision Of Franklin
Delano Roosevelt and whatever the
verdict Of the Democratic National
Convention the Democratic national
ticket Of 1910 goes before the public
pledged to the fulnllment Of q mag
nificent program"
Oppesition from Clark.
Gov. Stark has espoused the cause
IN Missouri Of . pro-New Deal
delegation to the Democratic Ma.
tional Convention. In his effort tt
control, or have q controlling voice
In the selection Of the delegation, he
has run head on into serious op-
position from Senator Bennett C.
Clark. Missouri IS a large and i'm
portant State Of the Middle West
and more may be tied into this con.
fiict for control of the delegation
than appears on the surface. Sen.
ator Clark himself has been men.
toned many times as a possible
presidential nominee. but not with
the approval Of the New Dealers.
Two weeks hence, In Wisconsin
the first real test Of strength be.
tween leading Republican contend.
ers for the presidential nomina.
ticn takes place. Senator Van.
denberg of Michigan is facing New
York District Attorney Dewey II
the Wisconsin presidential prefer.
ential primary. each backing .
slate of delegates. The two men
lock horns again the following weel
In the Nebraska primary.
The primary results in two Mid.
west States may not settle the
presidential nomination, particular.
" Is Senator Taft Of Ohio Is not .
participant in either of them. But
If Mr.. Dewey Is defeated these pri.
maries will drive the youthful racket
busters stock far down in the DO
litical market. A dog fall, with
both Senator Vandenberg and Mr.
Dewey scoring, would be inconclu.
sive, and even . victory for Mr.
Dewey in both the States would
not necessarily eliminate Senate,
Vandenberg. who will 60 to the con.
vention with considerable BACKING
irrespective of the Wisconsin and
Nebraska results.
Risks Popularity.
For Mr.. Dewey, however, 1t /.
essential that the belief In his popu-
larity throughout the country be
not Knocked down, q 1t might well
be If he loses In both Wisconsin
and Nebraska. He has the Illinois
primary on April . all to himself
for none Of the other Republican
presidential candidates would enter
there.
Senator Taft's supporters continue
to plug away for their candidate
insisting that real progress has beer
made. The Republican presidential
conundrum, however, may well con.
tmue unanswered until the national
convention. That, unless the Pres
ident clears the atmosphere, is likely
to be the same situation In the
Democratic camp.
Senator Bridges Of New Hampshire