The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1940-08-29

caucus ldea OF
Carter cIas. convention to bolt,
and to bolt on the
third-term issue. Certainly the
statement by the most prominent
Virginian of his day, the man who
fathered the present federal reserve
system, the greatest banking reform
of all time, and, curiously enough,
reform which worked, is not cal
eulated to give aid and comfort TO
the third terrners..
1t is interesting to note, by the
way, what is gong on among the
men and women who were close to
Woodrow Wilson, Of these, Glass is
outstanding He was secretary Of
the treasury for period under
Wilson, and was always very close
TO him Vance Mccormick. who
was Wilson'S chairman of the DEM
ocratic National committee, has
come out for Willkie. Mrs. E. 7.
Meredith, widow of Wilson'S secre-
tary of agriculture, has come out
for Willkie.
BARUCH NOT BOLTING
Bernard M. Baruch, who was ap-
pointed by Wilson to run the vital
war industries board. is not boiling
Baruch prides himself on being an
unreconstructed southern Democrat.
His father was an officer in the Con-
federate army and Baruch was born
in Camden, S. c. But while Baruch
is not boiling, it is interesting to
note that so many of his friends are.
His two bright young men.
George Peek and Gen. Hugh
Johnson, are both out for Willkie
Hiram Johnson was bitter in 1882
with hate for Herbert Hoover. He
still hates him, for Hiram seldom
gives up an enmity So when
F. D. r. sent the California sena-
tor word in 1882 that he would be
glad to meet him and shake hands
with him on his visit to San Fran
cisco if it would not emharrass john
son, the senator was ripe for the
compliment
In 1885 Johnson virtually took no
part in the campaign. He had been
souring rapidly on Roosevelt but not
to the point Of bitterness.
DRAFT THIN DISGUISE
President Roosevelt, much dis
turbed by the course of the cam
paign SO far, is certain to take some
step calculated to shock the coun-
try, make it forget the present cam
paign issues, and center all interest
on the international crisis.
But-up to noW-the administra-
tons political strategy has shown
few signs of the old political cum
ming SO disastrous to Republican
hopes in 1882, 1884, and 1886.
For instance, appointment of Hen
ry L. Stimson and Frank Knox,
Republicans, to the cabinet. This
did play hob with certain figures at
the Republican convention, as when
John Hamilton read them out of
the party. But the net result was
bad for the Roosevelt side. Some
folks wondered why a 72-year-old
man was all right for the toughest
job in the defense plan, head of
the war department, but not to sit
as justice of the Supreme court.
Moreover, this led to the firing of
Louis Johnson, who had demonstrate
ed more vision than any one around
the administration,
ROOSEVELT DISTURBED
Another instance was the thin dis
gulse thrown over the draft" of
Roosevelt, the prominence given the
big city bosses, Frank Hague of Jer-
sey City, Ed j. Kelly Of Chicago, Ed
Flynn of the Bronx, etc, and the
clear debating of the vice presiden-
tial nominee.
All this came on top of the treat
ment of John Nance Garner, Paul
" McNutt, and James A. Farley,
to mention three Of the would-be as
pirants crushed by allowing Roose-
velt's name to be used in the big
primary states where machines
could be depended upon to do the
Presidents bidding.
The point in all this is that they
were not clever, politically. Roose-
welt could have been renominated
had he insisted from the first day
that he did not want it, and If he
had refused to allow his name to
be used in any primary. The Dem
ocrats at Chicago were SO afraid Of
Willkie that they would have voted
overwhelmingly for a third term
even If Roosevelt had pretended he
wouldn't take it.
Meanwhile, Willkie, to date, has
not made q mistake SO far obvious.