Evening star., 1943-06-26
The Political Mill
Veto Makes Roosevelt Hero Of Organized Lobor
But Moy Aienute Lorqe Segment Of Voters

Hero Of Organized Labor,
e Segment Of Voters
may have laid on the shoulders of
Congress.
The thing cuts both ways, how
ever. There are millions of vot-
ers in the country outside of or
. ganized labor. Many of these
voters will resent the veto of the
strike bill. and the President may
lose ground with them.
Farmer Boosts Macarthur.
A Western Nebraska farmer re-
Gently sent check for 500 to
Representative Curtis OF his State,
with a request that he pass 1t on
to Senator vandenberg. of Michi-
gan, to help bring about the NOM
ination of Gen. Douglas Mac
Arthur for President by the Re-
publican National Convention
next year.
In his letter of transmittal, the
farmer said that he was strug-
Cling to pay his debts, but that he
wanted to make this contribution
in the hope that something could
be done to oust the present ad-
ministration in Washington. Un-
less there is change, he said,
there would be no chance of his
ever paying his debts, and no
chance for the country.
He was convinced, he said, that
Gen. Macarthur was the man who
could be elected over President
Roosevelt if the latter is nomi-
mated for a fourth term. Be-
cause Senator Vandenberg has
been outspoken in his advocacy of
the nomination of Gen. Mac
Arthur for the presidential nomi-
nation, he urged that the check
be given him.
Senator Vandenberg said today
that he had returned the check to
the farmer. He congratulated
the farmer on his constructive
patriotism, but added that he
had not been authorized by Gen.
Macarthur, or any one acting for
him, to accept or collect money
for campaign for Macarthur for
President.
Other Pro-MacArthur Letters.
The Michigan Senator said,
however, that this incident was
just one of many examples of the
widespread interest in Gen. Mac
Arthur as presidential candi-
date.
Il have had many letters from
all parts Of the country" he
added, strongly indorsing Gen.
Macarthur for the President. If
he is nominated, he will be
elected"
There is a strong impression
that the Roosevelt New Dealers
would dislike very much to have
Gen, Macarthur as an opponent
in the election next year. From
the general, who is in command
in Australia, there has come no
word except that he is not in
politics. He is intent on defeat
ing the japanese and freeing the
Philippines again.
Next February Gen. Macarthur
becomes 64 years old, the statu-
tory age for Army retirement.
The President will then have to
decide whether to retire Gen.
Macarthur or keep him on active
service. AS long as he is in active
service, he cannot become an
active candidate for presidential
nomination.
Army Candidates Banned.
Last February the War Depart
ment issued an order which said
in part: mo member of the mill
tary forces on active duty will
hereafter become a candidate for
or seek or accept an election to
any public Office not held by him
when he entered upon active
duty
At the time, many members of
Congress interpreted the order as
an effort to head off the talk of
Macarthur for President. Sem
ator Vandenberg, in a speech in
the Senate, said that if the order
applied to Gen. Macarthur, then
it also applied to President Roose-
velt. commander in chief of the
Army. He became commander in
chief, he said, when he became
President, and he did not hold the
presidential Office before that.
In the opinion of Senator
Vandenberg, the nomination of
Gen. Macarthur would be the
complete answer to those who
support fourth term for Presi-
dent on the ground that is is
necessary to have in the White
House a Han who knows how to
run the war.