Evening star., 1940-07-17

l acceptance of the
IN nomination.
WIS In sense, the
Charles G. Ross. message is an
amplification of the famous II do
not choose to run" statement of CAL
vim Coolidge. Roosevelt says that
he does not "wish"-that is, choose
to run. But he does not say that
he will decline the nomination If it
is offered to him.
He will be nominated. There IS
scarcely any one who believes now
that he will not accept.
The message is for record. It
is another device to heighten the
appearance of spontaneity in the
draft movement Genuine sponta-
neity is not lacking, but to a de-
gree-a very considerable degree
the surface appearance is false.
The movement has been carefully
engineered, in part. by ardent New
Dealers convinced that the nomina.
ton of the President is essential
to the country's welfare, in part by
shrewd politicians interested only
in the patronage aspects Of party
success. Without the active COLI
laboration of the latter it could
not have succeeded.
Presidents Collaboration.
Nor could it have succeeded with
out the passive collaboration of the
President. Senator Barkley said
that Sin no way whatsoever has he
(the President exerted any influ.
ence in the selection of delegates"
The President, one is entitled to
think, should have spoken for him.
self in a matter of such tremendous
Importance. Let that pass. Bark.
ley's word state half truth. The
President has, of course, not direct.
ly used his influence in the selec.
ton of delegates, but powerful pres.
sure has been used by others with
out restraint from him. BY his
long-maintained silence the Presi-
dent has been a large factor in
backing out other candidates and
so creating situation where the
draft, in the view of this convention.
is essential if the party is to have q
chance in the election.
For Roosevelt to back out now
would throw the party into chaos.
Notwithstanding the demonstra-
tions for the President last night-a
necessary part of the act-one senses
in many of the delegates a mood
remindful of classic anecdote-
that one about the glum-faced coun-
trynaan who, encountered on the
road to the bright lights of the city
for his weekly binge, said he was
about to get roaring drunk-"and
Lord! How dread It'll"
Delegates Are Disturbed.
At least a substantial minority Of
the delegates are a disturbed and
uneasy lot. Something now in po-
litical annals is about to take place,
and however much they may be for
it, there's a gnawing doubt as to its
ultimate wisdom.
The convention is Embossed in
the usual sense, but in another it is
the most highly bossed affair that
can be conceived. 1t is being run
by one man. and it proceeds to it's
predetermined end with the in
evitability of Greek tragedy.
Something is said now and then.
in the rumors that run ceaselessly
through the hotel corridors, to the
effect that the decision on the
vice presidential nomination will
be left wide OPEN" Obviously 1t
will not be. Roosevelt may not
put his finger on one man for the
place, but certainly no choice will
be made without his approval. He
holds here a veto power. "The
Word" will guide if 1t does not
dictate the choice.
Apprehension Over Farley.
Through the delegates runs a
strong current of sympathy for Jim
Farley. There are many who feel
that he has been hardly used by the
man to whose interests he has de-
voted 10 years of his life. Justified
or not, the feeling is there, and it
contributes to the vaguely disturbed
state of mind of the convention.
There is the definite apprehension,
as well, that the loss OF Farley-for
it is generally believed that he will
step down and out-will cost the
ticket votes in November. This not
only because the campaign will be
deprived of the services of a master
strategist, but because of the
wounding of Farley's large personal
following by what many believe has
been the cavalier treatment of his
ambitions by the New Dealers.
Farley's great hope had been to
run for Vice President with Cordell
Hull at the head Of the ticket,
The report today is that the ma
tional chairman, under keen pres.
sure, has consented to defer his
withdrawal until the middle of Au.
gust or the first Of September. But
it Is generally agreed that Farley,
because of his opposition to the
third term, is about to break his
long partnership with Roosevelt.
Some Of the New Dealers like the
prospect-it Is even reumored that
this group wants to get Charlie
Nicholson out of the publicity di-
rectorship-but the rank and file
Of the delegates hold other views.
Farley's retirement to them Is a dis.
quieting omen.