Evening star., 1940-05-09
The Political Mill
Third d-Termers Rely on War Situation Abroad
In Move for denomination Of Roosevelt

They believe that If they can make
q suficient show Of force, they will
be able to convince the President
he must run, and convince MIR,
Farley-and even Vice President
Garner-that any anti-third term
efforts will be futile and injurious
to Democratic chances. That Is
what they hope to do anyway.
More particularly, however, do
the third termers rely upon the war
situation abroad to bring about the
denomination Of President Roose-
velt and his reelection. And yet it
is a difacult game to play. They are
counting on the sympathies of the
American people for the democracies
IN their war against Hitlerism-and
the well-understood knowledge that
the Presidents sympathies are all
that way. At the same time they
must reckon with the fact that
millions of Americans are de-
termined to stay out Of the Eu-
ropean war.
Third Termers' Thesis.
What the third termers believe
is that the Presidents interest in
the war situation will be so great
that he will be unable to resist
denomination when he is told that
he Is needed to lead the country in
a crisis-whether it be to take this
country into war or to keep 1t at
peace. 1t is that kind of plea
which they believe will be effective
IN keeping Mr.. Farley in line in the
final analysis.
Republicans are saying little
about a third term issue at this
time. As long as there is no definite
assurance the President will seek
third term, it would be difficult TO
stir up the country. But once the
President becomes q candidate, the
issue Is likely to flare across the
political horizon. 1t will become
very real. Until it is actually be-
fore the people, however, there is
no way Of estimating its effect.
One thing seems reasonably certain,
however. There would be no third
term victory If there were no war
in Europe.
1t is argued in many quarters
that this country mus. go to war to
prevent defeat Of Britain and
France-if such defeat seems likely.
II that is really the case, America
is losing a lot of valuable time which
will be required to raise an army
and teach it to fight Plans and ap-
preparations for naval increases, and
for increases In the air force. have
been made. But these could be
enormously speeded up. In the face
of the coming national political CAM
paign, the great effort on all sides
is to convince the voters that nothing
will be done to take this country
into war. So preparedness may be
allowed to lag until after the elec-
ton in November, for another ''he
kept US out OF war appeal to the
voters. A valuable six months may
be lost with such tactics.
Chandler Gets 4 Break.
Senator A. B. Happy" Chandler
of Kentucky. 1t now appears. will
have no serious opposition for the
Democratic senatorial nomination in
Kentucky this summer. ]. Lyter
Donaldson, State commissioner of
highways, who had considered enter
ing the race for the nomination, an
nounced yesterday he would not run.
never tried running without
opposition before said Senator
Chandler when informed Of Donald
sons decision. But" he added with
an infectious smile, I'm willing to
try It," In 1888 Chandler, then Gov
ernor, ran against Senator Barkley,