The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1943-11-04
was 1ES:}50iy 1({:2355
Battle Tides 10 Influence e
1914 Political Campaign x
Close Observers Change Minds, Express Belief
President viii Not Be Candidate if
War Ends by Spring.
WNU Service. Union Trust Building
Washington, d. c.
BY BAUKHAGE
Netrs 4nalya and Commentator.

WNU Service, Union Trust Building,
Washington, d. c.
AS the political campaign, which
will be over in short year, begins
TO increase in tempo, il is interesting
to note that noticeable shock record
ed by the reporters at recent White
House press and radio conference
when the President tossed off that
phrase when I am out of the
White House.
Taken in the context, it was inn
mediately clear that the President
did not delimit the time element in
this statement and there was no real
justification for the startled pause
when pencils stopped scribbling and
heads and eyebrows went up at the
presidential remark Mr.. Roosevelt
was merely pointing out, in connec-
ton with the postwar rubber situa-
ton, that he believed that any pro-
posed tariff to protect the synthetic
rubber plants after the war should
be vetoed, and he implied that any
President who vetoed such a meas
ure might stir up lot Of opposition
from the synthetic rubber manufac-
turers.
But we have become so accus-
toned to the idea that Mr.. Roosevelt
himself thinks only in terms of his
own regime without time or other
limitations, that an expression which
seemed to indicate the opposite nat
urally caused stir.
However, it is entirely possible
that Mr.. Roosevelt will not be cam
didate in 1914. There are even those
who enjoy making rash prophecies
who are already saying he has made
up his mind not to run at all under
any circumstances. This type OF
prediction IS accepted in Washing
ton as being in that class of guesses
which have about 1890 chance OF
being right.
But closer observers who do not
choose to guess the Presidents inner
thoughts but are thoroughly familiar
with his manner of thinking, deduce,
from what they believe is past ex-
perience, that he will not be can
didate if the war is over by next
spring. This is contrary to earlier
representations that his desire to be
President when the blue-prints for
the postwar world are being drawn
would incline him toward running
for fourth term. The explanation
is that he will not run unless he has
more than an even chance of win
ming,
End of Conflict /.
Although none of thg1army or navy
officers Of the top cofnmand will al
low themselves to be quoted as say
ing the war will end Yearly in 1914,
a number of holder and less con-
strained military folk aTe> willing to
say this is possible.
1t is interesting to consider that
year ago this summer, when many
believed that invasion of northern
Europe by the Allies would be I'M
dertaken by the spring of l943, few
people we're predicting, even under
such circumstances an end Of the
war early in 1914. Take for instance
typical comment in a leading peri
odical (Harper's) written very little
over year ago in which it was said
that Germany must complete the
conquest of key positions in Russia,
must halt or control the Anglo-Amer-
lean onslaught from the air, and
must hold northern Africa for a
sortie in the Middle East. When we
consider what has happened since,
we can see the progress which has
been made. Far from any action in
which the word conquest" could he
used, the Wehrmacht in Russia has
been driven beyond its last Russian
defense lines in many places. The
dream of an African empire has be-
come the reality of bitter defeat and
despite desperate defense measures,
the most powerful air blows are be-
ing struck against the Reich.
Japanese Situation
Within the year, Japan's power
has begun to crumble at rate and
in a manner which makes it plain
that she will not have to be beaten
back island by island and every Jap
on foreign soil killed. The Mikado's
+'unc0nquerabfes have become ex-
ceedingly adept at getting away
from points once expected to be last
stands, with remarkable alacrity
and apparent satisfaction in their
own retreatability.
Therefore, it is not at all impos-
sible that the President, if he intends
voluntarily to retire with the end Of
the fighting, means that he will be