Evening star., 1940-03-21
Far|ey's Statement
Considered Blow 10
Third.Term Drive
Announcement He Will
Stay in Race EIutes
Garner Bockers
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

postmaster General Farley S with
out reservation" announcement of
his presidential candidacy in Spring.
field, Mass, yesterday threw the big
gest monkey wrench into the Roose-
welt third-term drive that has oc-
CURED since Vice President Garner
let it be known he would run even
If President Roosevelt were a candi-
date for denomination.
-third-term Democrats today
talked with greater confidence than
they have for months.
Third-term supporters, on the
other hand, belittled the possible
effect Of the Farley determination
to be a candidate without reserva-
ton"
In some quarters it was argued
that Mr.. Farley had made his an
nouncement, not in opposition to the
President or any plans he may have
for running again, but in the belief
the President has no intention Of
running.
Garner Backers Elated.
The more general Interpretation
Of the move, however, was that the
Postmaster General has finally
thrown down the gauntlet to the
third-term boosters, and will go
through with fight against a re-
tiny, ~ tho procilnv,f
The Garner-for President sup
porters were obviously elated. While
Mr.. Farley made it clear he was to
be a candidate in his own right and
did not intend to ally himself with
any other, it was obvious to them
that if the Postmaster General is to
fight against third term nomina-
ton, he and Vice President Garner
will be in the same camp.
Senator Johnson, Democrat, of
Colorado praised Mr.. Farley's frank
statement of his position. He said:
Il am very proud that Jim Farley
has spoken out. There has been
too much pussy-footing. We need
more fortnight statements like his
to clear the atmosphere. I am
taking what he said seriously"
Praised BY Holt.
Senator Holt, Democrat, of West
Virginia said:
''Mr. Farley's statement that he
will be a candidate without reserva-
ton will give the third term drive
jolt. The first-term drive for MIR
Roosevelt, without the aid of Jim
Farley, would not have gotten so
far. I know that a large number OF
Mr.. Farley's friends believe he has
not been given proper consideration
at the White House for the work he
has done for the party"
Senator Holt added that Mr.
Farley has great number of friends
throughout the country and also
among Democratic members of
Congress.
Questions on the lips of Demo-
cratic leaders in Washington today
included:
/. Will Mr.. Farley continue In his
cabinet office?
2. Will Mr.. Farley remain as
chairman of the Democratic Ma
tional Committee?
Third Term Question.
3. Will rising tide of third term
opposition in the Democratic party
of itself cause the dropping of the
third-term movement, on the theory
that a split in the party would mean
defeat for the President at the polls
in November, even if he were NOM
| mated?
The opinion was expressed here
today, in the absence of any COM
ment by Mr.. Farley himself, that he
would not retire from the chairman
ship of the Democratic National
Committee, certainly not before the
meeting of the Democratic National
Convention in July.
Whether he will remain in the
cabinet depends, it was said, on the
President himself. However, If he
were ousted from the cabinet now
the President would be regarded as
an active candidate for renomina-
ton.
The President is in a position, II
was pointed out, to quiet the grow
ing dispute in the Democratic party
at any time he sees fit, by merely
announcing he will not run.
Immediate Effect in State.
The Farley announcement that
his name would surely be presented
at the Democratic National Conven.
ton apparently had an immediate
effect In Massachusetts,, according Il
| (See POLITICS, Page A-40