The Wilmington morning star., 1940-02-29
WASHINGTON
DAYBOOK
BY PRESTON GROVER

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2S.-Smart political
critics of President Roosevelt agree he would
be unwise to declare himself out of the race
at this point. Needless to say, his friends can
think of even more cogent reasons for his
keeping quiet.
To declare himself out of the presidential
race would mean:
l. He would weaken his influence in con.
gress.
2. He would weaken his control over the
democratic convention.
3. He would weaken his influence in foreign
affairs.
This last is looked upon as most important.
For a President to declare himself already a
has BEEN at a crucial international period
would be to invite light treatment at the hands
Of foreign nations.
On the other hand, if he has made up his
mind to run for a third term, a declaration
to that effect while congress is in session
would stir up all the old animosities that were
so bitter in 1888. 1t would be especially pain
full in congress. AS an advance sample, Senator
Smith of South Carolina already has declared
that if F.D.R. comes up for a third term he
will walk out of the convention.
The ones who are whooping it up for The
President to take himself out of the race or
to put himself wholly in, are, for the most
part, persons who would benefit from one or
the other of such moves.
Democratic candidates would like to have the
doubt cleared up. Then they could go into the
primaries with a clear declaration that I'm
for me-" Now they go in with an explanation
that I'm for Roosevelt if he wants to run,
after that I'm for me. -"
AS for the republicans, they probably would
gain most from a frank declaration of the
President that he is seeking a third term-un.
less you believe, as some do, that such a de-
cIaration would mean another 1886. The cries
of dictator which the republicans have aimed
NJ Tho White House Pow wars mast would he-
come a nationwide chorus.
Representative Dies of Texas has become his
own most sincere convert to the Righteousness
of his R~ed-and-Fascist hunt. Anyone with half
an eye could tell, when Dies first took over
the investigation two years ago, he was less
than half serious. He expected to demagogue.
He did.
He still does. But he has dug into the bust
ness enough to more than half convince him
self he is saving the nation from a fate worse
than death.
Incidentally, his first press conference on his
recent return from Texas was half as big as
the Presidents and twice as long. Moreover
his ~diggings in the political and financial meth
erworld are drawing crowds and press atten
ton.
And don't forget that:
,Thirty-eight freshmen republican house mem
berS meet every Wednesday nlSht LOT olnnel
at the Army-Navy club where speakers-pr1n
cipally new deal observation-disclosures them OF
how the government is run. But the speaker:
have to endure an hour Of questioning. . . Be
cause it is an election year congress will SEM
out 1000, 900 of free mail compared to thu
usual $3.50. 900. Rep. Woodrum Of Virginia
big gun on the house appropriations commit
tee, shows up to work sometimes as early a:
7:30 a. M. after a brisk walk along Pennsyl
vania avenue. -. Brightest line of the week
Senator Connally of Texas, reporting how thu
senate foreign relations committee had ginger
ly handled the Japanese embargo question
1--WE fired a. few blanks and fell back"