Evening star., 1944-10-25
Roosevelt Campaign
Shift Held Justified
Had Right to Change His Mind
In Emergency, Says Writer
BY Dauid Laurence.

BY Dauid Laurence.
President Roosevelt should not be
chided for changing his mind about
campaigning this year. Every candi-
date has right to change his mind
especially II tbe exigencies or emergen-
cies or contingencies of a campaign
seem to demand 1t.
Mr.. Rooseyelt's bit of debate with a
reporter at the semi weekly press con-
ference at the White House is an in-
teresting example of how the best laid
plans of any campaign may go awry.
On July 10 last, the President In a let
ter released from the White House
wrote to Chairman Hannegan of the
Democratic National Committee:
Il would accept tthe nomination, and
serve, but would not run in the usual,
partisan. political sense"
There was no qualification in that
letter. On July 20, however, In address,
ing by radio his acceptance of the NOM
ination to the Democratic National
Convention at Chicago, Mr.. Roosevelt
said:
Il shall not campaign in the usual
sense for the Office. In these DAYS Of
tragic sorrow, I do not consider it fitting,
and besides, in these days of globaI
warfare, shall not be able to find the
time. l shall, however, feel free to re-
port to the people the facts about mat
ters of concern to them and, especially,
TO correct any Misrepresentation"
Always Misrepresentation"
Now it so happens that Mr.. Roosevelt
knew that there would be "misrepre-
sentations" Has there been any po-
litical campaign in the memory of any
one living which did not contain what
one candidate or the other called
misrepresentation" Was Mr.. Roosevelt
spoofing the American people when he
introduced the above qualification to
his promise in his speech of acceptance?
1t will be recalled that in 1910 he started
out to remain aloof but then entered the
campaign in the last two weeks just to
answer the campaign lies" of Wendell
Willkie, as he called them.
Maybe Mr.. Roosevelt meant that he
wouldn't campaign in the 1882 sense.
That year he toured the country from
coast to coast. Maybe he meant that
he would abide by the high standard
of 1910 when he vilified his opponent.
But all this is permissible p-esums bly,
in campaigning. The American people
are used to sharp words in campaigns
and when the election is over the usual
messages of congrs tulations come over
the wires and the country puts the
election debate aside.
Politicians Had Way.
What really was unfortunate this
| year, however, was that Mr. Roosevelt
| endeavored to give the background of
war as the reason for remaining sloof
| from the campaign. II he should be de-
| feated in this election it will bs said by
| many of his supporters that he would
have won more votes by sticking to the
role Of President immersed in matters
| of war and problems Of statecraft.
! The practical politicians, however
have had their way. One by one the
managers from the larger States have
called in desperation for Mr.. Roosevelts
personal appearance. And he has
yielded, He mas done so doubtless be-
cause whatever overconfidence ne him.
self may have had last july about the
outcome apparently has vanished and
1t looks like close race now.
Mr.. Roosevelt is justified in reversing
his tactics. The politicians understand
| it. Whatever INJURY there may be comes,
| OF course, among those citizens who have
already made up their minds that the
| promises of Mr.. Roosevelt unhappilu are
like time table subject to change
| without notice
| (Reproduction riRhtx reserradl