Evening star., 1940-01-28
Foresees Real Drive
to 'Druft Roosevelt
BIZ Otpe1, L. Scott.

Two facts now stand out clearly from
what otherwise is very muddled situa-
ton in national politics.
One Of these facts is the amazing ease
with which President Roosevelt could be
drafted" for third nomination II only
he is willing to permit that draft. The
other is the great difficulty OF building
up any other individual satisfactory to
the President, who might be nominated
and who might then have better-than-
even chance of winning the November
election.
All the President needs to do is to
lift the lid and parade Of draft" dele
cations will start In his direction. There
is beginning to be some doubt about
whether he can sit on the lid and pre-
vent this parade in spite OF his personal
attitude.
The reason? Simply that the Demo-
cratic party with between 100000 and
100000 Federal jobs at stake is not anx-
ious to tie its future to some individual
who may get a sour reception at the
polls, or who stands no better than an
even chance Of coming out on top when
the votes are counted.
The now obvious fact is that those in
dividuals in the Democratic party, who
would like to take over Mr.. Roosevelt's
job, just are not clicking in q way that
convinces the local politicians who are
going to have to carry the burden Of a
campaign.
For example:
Vice President Garner is trying hard,
and has an appeal to some groups, but
the response to his candidacy is not
what was expected. It now is known
definitely that the Vice President is in
the race only to stop Mr.. Roosevelt and
that he would remove himself If the
President renounced third term. This
Is not the type Of candidacy that carries
a very wide appeal.
Paul v. McNutt set out with flourish,
and for a time was given head by the
President himself. But today Mr.. Nc
Nuts candidacy is in the very greatest
difficulty and cannot be taken with great
seriousness.
Cordell Hull is very definitely in the
running and would be acceptable to Mr.
Roosevelt. But when the politicians, who
are going to have to run the campaign
appraise the outlook with Secretary of
State Hull at the head of the ticket they
begin to get cold feet. Mr. Hulls difn-
Guilty is that his reciprocal trade pro-
gram is great handicap in the vital
corn and wheat belt region.
Henry Wallace might stand a chance,
but the President thinks he lacks 1T"
and Mr.. Wallace thinks that the Presi-
dent should run again.
President Roosevelt, of course Is well
aware Of this absence of sure-fire candi-
dates within his party. He is willing, If
necessary, to go down the line for Secre-
tary Hull. according to all signs. But
Mr.. Roosevelt's real attitude was re-
vealed inadvertently at q recent press
conference when newspapermen told him
that Kenneth Crawford had been elected
unanimously as head of the Newspaper
Guild. .-..--..ss.........l. l.,,s~...ss. .-...s
The President instantly remarked that
Crawford must be the man he is look
ing for.
Mr.. Roosevelt wants to find somebody
who can please everybody within the
party and who can win at election time
Mr. Hull fills the first qualification, but
leaves some doubt about the second
Then, too. the President is acutely con-
scious of the need for building up
young leadership in this country that can
carry forward in the years to come. That
consciousness makes him very interested
in two personalities-Robert H. jackson,
the new Attorney General, and Justice
William o. Douglas Of the Supreme
Court.
1t is not unlikely that if Mr.. Roose-
welt could have his way in the 1910
Democratic National Convention he
would pick one or the other of these two
as his choice. The Presidents real fav-
orite is Attorney General Jackson.
Mr.. jackson is brilliant He has an
attractive personality. He is an accom-
plished speaker both before an audience
and on the radio. He is educated in the
ways Of Washington. He is youthful at
48. But he doesn't click with the party
leaders. other than the President They
doubt whether he would capture the
country's imagination and they think
that the conservative wing of the party
would not go along with him.
This means that 1t probably is a mis-
take to forget about Justice Douglas.
But right now the prospect is that
President Roosevelt himself is going to
have difficulty fighting of the nomina-
ton for himself.
1t is to be expected that the Presi-
dent will try to fight of that nomination
Any other attitude would be hazardous
politically in Nation that has come to
accept two-term tradition In the pres
idency. This attitude already has been
expressed to few individuals high in
the Democratic ranks. Mr. Roosevelt
has made it clear to these individuals
that he will not seek a third term, and
that he will announce his intention not
to seek third term.
But that does not mean an intention
on the Presidents part to let others do
the choosing of a successor.
And it does not mean that the Presi-
dent will deliberately kill of a move
ment to draft him for denomination In