Evening star., 1943-04-30
By the Associated Press,

batting the fourth term question
on radios Town Hall of the Air
here last night, Democratic Gov.
M. M. Nicely of West Virginia de-
clared President Roosevelt is "in-
dispensable," while Senator Bridges,
Republican, of New Hampshire, pre-
dicted reelection of Mr.. Roose-
velt would lead to dictatorship.
Not unless we are ready to accept
dictatorship and give UP the Amer
lea we have known and loved should
the President of the United States
have fourth term" Senator
Bridges declared.
Gov. Nicely replied:
Franklin Roosevelt's life proves
that dictatorship would be as alb
horent to him as it was to WASH
ington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Theo-
dore Roosevelt. = These made
dictatorship impossible in their
days, just as another patriotic
President is making it impossible
in ours. ."
Fourth Term Draft.
Regardless of his (Roosevelt's)
wishes, he will be drafted for a
fourth term. His retirement before
the war is won would endanger the
lives of 10000, 900 American boys.
=" His continuation as Presi-
dent until after the fictory is now
fervently desired and next year will
be imperativelv demanded by all
the hosts of the common people"
The debate was held in Syria
Mosque before a crowd Of 1000
spectators, with partisan cheers and
booes apparently equally divided.
-Four more years of Roosevelt"
Senator Bridges asserted, means
four more years of Harry Hopkins,
four more years of Government by
lame ducks, repudiated at the polls
and given higher Offices In exchange
for political slavery.
Sees World WPA.
"It means four more years OF New
Deal wasters, four more years OF cru
cifying small business. four more
years of planned agricultural mis-
management which has led us to
the brink Of starvation, and-above
all-four more years of WPA all over
the world at the expense Of the
American taxpayer"
Some controversy preceded ar
rangements for the debate, with
George A. Blackmore, president of
the Westinghouse Airbrake Co.. and
chairman of the committee which
raised 81 900 to finance the program,
Withdrawing support because Of the
subject. He had favored discussion
Of capitalism and labor.
George v. Denny, the programs
moderator. answering charges that
the occasion was being used as
trial balloon" for a possible fourth
term attempt, declared in a state
ment the White House had not been
informed of the subject and that
Republicans first had suggested
the idea"
Lerner Quizzes Bridges.
Max Lerner, writer and former
Williams College professor, a special
interrogator on the program, asked
Senator Bridges:
Should the people be guarded
against the privilege of voting for a
fourth term for Roosevelt in 1944?"
If Mr.. Roosevelt wants unity In
the war effort he should take HIM
self out OF the race" Senator Bridges
replied.
Senator Wherry, Republican, Of
Nebraska interjeeted: t-$. ,
I'VE want the people and not the
White House political machine to
nominate a candidate"
Mr.. Lerner asked Senator Bridges
to cite specific instances in the past
where Mr.. Roosevelt had practiced
dictatorship" to which the New
Hampshire Senator replied:
Ever since 1888 this country has
been governed largely by executive
orders and directives-3,656 presi-
Dental directives have been issued
in the last two years"
Senator Wherry commented that
Mr.. Roosevelt, "by dominating the
democratic conventions" committed
dictatorial acts akin to those of
Hitler in dominating the German
elections.
Mr.. Lerner retorted: @
The Democrats never seemed to
have a monopoly when it comes to
picking candidates in 'smoke-filled
rooms"
Have you forgotten Chicago in
1922" Senator Bridges shot back.
Senator Wherry asserted Mr..
Roosevelt has already been nomi-
mated" for a fourth term. "Mr.
Nicely nominated him in Charleston
last February. It's only question
here tonight of who we want for
Vice President"