Evening star., 1943-04-06
Army
Continued From First Page.) }

reply was that where it was for
the good of the public service, sepa-
ration from the service and active
duty could be effected.
President Roosevelt effectually set
tied the question of whether men,
bers of Congress in the armed serv-
ices could continue to serve in the
armed forces and seek reelection in
November in a directive issued last
summer. The effect of the order
was that members of Congress, like
Senator Lodge. should either quit
Congress and give all their time to
military service, or that they quit
the Army and continue in political
Office. Senator Lodge and others
gave up active service and stood for
reelection.
No order has been issued prohibit
ing men in the Navy from being
candidates for office or from accept
ing election to public Office.
Gov. Harold E. Stassen of Min
nesota, 36-year- -old Republican, this
month will enter the Navy as a
commissioned officer. He already
has been through some training and
is resigning as Governor. He has
said he Is not d candidate for the
presidential nomination. However.
many of Gov Stassen's friends hope
the Republican National Conven-
ton next year may turn to him.
particularly if a deadlock should
arise between Gov. Bricker Of Ohio
and Wendell L. Willkie.
Unless a similar order is issued
by the Navy, Gov. Stassen would
occupy a different position from
that of any Army man on active
service, including Gen. Macarthur.
Some Senators and members Of
the House expressed surprise at the
War Department order, dated Feb
ruary 25. last, and said they were
frankly mystified. They pointed out
there are other men on active serv-
ice in the Army who might be given
political preferment, among them
Maj. Gen. Patrick Hurley. Gen.
Hurley was Secretary of War in the
Hoover administration. He also has
been mentioned as a possible presi-
dental nominee.
So far as has been learned no
Army regulations have been issued
in the past forbidding a citizen of
the armed forces to accept election
to public Office not held by him
when he entered the Army.
Another Section of Order.
Another section of the War De-
partment order. which deals witt
activity at elections and perform.
ance of duties of public office" says:
mo member of the military forces
on active duty will hereafter become
candidate for or seek or accept
reelection to public Office held by
him when he entered upon active
duty, without prior approval of the
War Department, and such approval
will be granted only in cases Of
material hardship, and if in the
opinion of the commanding officer
such individuals candidacy for re-
election will not interfere with his
military duties: and no leave will
be authorized for any purpose Of
campaigning for such reelection or
Of promoting or furthering same"
1t was explained this part of the
order was designed to avoid inf1ict-
ing hardships on men who, though
in an elective office at the time of
entering the Army. were entitled to
a pension which might be jeopar-
died by their not being allowed to
run for office again.
Under the War Department order
It was said, no man in the Army on
active duty, if nominated and
elected to public Office, whether
the White House or county sheriff
could accept the Office, unless these
regulations we're waived by the de-
partment. This would apply to any
man who, by outstanding services
on the battlefields, caught the fancy
of the American public. and was
nominated by political party
without any effort on his own part.
This is an extraordinary PROPOSE
tion," one Senator said. 1T would
compel man to give up his funda-
mental rights as an American citi-
zen. I cannot conceive that the
War Department would enforce this
rule. If a national convention of
one of the political parties should
nominate for President or Vice
President a man in the military
service"
Many Generals Sought Presidency.
In the past many American gen.
erals have been candidates for the
presidential nomination. Gen. Ben
jamin Lincoln was a candidate
against Washington in 1892, and
against John Adams in 1896, and
four years later against Thomas
Jefferson and John Adams.
Gen. Andrew Jackson was a can
didate against John Quincy Adams