Evening star., 1940-07-12
President Reveals
He Will Not Attend
Chicago Convention
Does Not Know
If He Will Send
A Message
BY JOHN C. HENRY.

President Roosevelt will not at.
tend the Democratic Convention in
Chicago, he told his press confer.
ence today.
Asked If he might send the con-
ventlon message disclosing his
personal political intentions, he re-
piled that he had not given the mat.
ter any thought one way or the other.
Mr.. Roosevelt said he would 20
on Potomac River cruise tomorrow
afternoon and would be back in
Washington late Sunday. If possible,
ne added, he will 60 to Hyde Park
late the following week end. This
program for alternate week ends of
relaxation probably will be followed
through the rest of the summer, he
added.
10 question of whether this plan
might be changed as result of ac-
ton by the Chicago convention, the
Chief Executive answered that he
did not see how that made any diff
ference, since he is still President Of
the United States.
Expected to Remain Silent.
These remarks, elected in every
instance by questioning, were Mr..
Roosevelts only contributions TODAY
to the burning question of whether
he would accept nomination for 4
third term in the White House.
Their quality of definiteness makes
1t extremely probable now that Mr..
Roosevelt will maintain his silence
throughout the convention, where
his denomination seems assured.
Looking in good health and fine
spirits as he received the press, Mr..
Roosevelt launched his conference
by a discussion of defense matters
and an assertion that there will be
no relaxation at the present time in
wage and hour standards in indus
try
The political portion of the con.
ference was opened by the question
ABOUT his possible visit to Chicago.
Although his negative reply was
unquallfled, a second questioner
asked II he might fly out there.
with mock seriousness, the Pres
ioent said he considered the oues-
tlon an insult to his veracity since
he had just said definitely he was
not going.
Reminded that the Republicans
took considerable pride in calling
their own convention Embossed.
Mr.. Roosevelt said he hadn't the
fatntest idea whether the Demo-
cratic session will fall into this
category.
Releases Ounces"
AT this point reporter said the
Ounce cap club" formed when the
President told a third-term uues-
TONER to don Ounce cap and stand
In a corner, would meet in Chicago
next week and dissolve its member
ship. Asked if they might expect
a message from the President, Mr..
Roosevelt remarked that recent
progress has been good and that a
large percentage of those once in
the corner have been released.
In his discussion of weekend
plans Mr.. Roosevelt emphasized that
he would always be close to Wash
ington or in immediate telephone
connection with the Capital. When
down the river, he said, the White
House yacht remains close to the
Quantico Marine base and in radio
communication with it. If neces-
sary, return from Quantico by au-
tomobile may be made in a little
more than an hour.
Senator Norris of Nebraska. Inde-
pendent, expressed his conviction
yesterday-his 10Th birthday anni-
versary-that Mr.. Roosevelt will be
nominated, and went on to say
he would make "a few speeches" for
him, principally in the Middle West.
House Draft Roosevelt" Drive.
On the House side, a draft
Roosevelt" drive was launched yes
(See ROOSEVELT, Page A-2.)