Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1944-06-15
POLITICAL
PARADE
BY George
Rothwell Brown

TWO fundamental motives are
L inspiring serva tive
Democrats in today's chessboard
moves against a fourth-term for
President Roosevelt.
II is not so much that these
Democrats hope to checkmate
the President. They realize the
difficulties which lie in the way
of doing that if he should be
determined TO proceed along the
lines which led to his renomina-
ton in 1910.
One motive is TO demonstrate
TO the President the width and
depth of the cleavage within the
party that a fourth-term nomi-
nation this year would produce,
and thus perhaps, without
openly threatening his defeat, to
reveal its possibility by throw
ing the election into the House
of Representatives.
THERE is maybe some slight
l. hope-but a very light ONE
that the President might be dis
suaded from running again
through fear of a defeat that
would forever tarnish his place
in history.
The only justification for an
attempt at a fourth term would
be success.
The principal motive goes
even deeper than this. What
has now been launched-and the
resignation Of James A. Farley
AS Democratic state chairman
in New York is part of it's a
movement by the old conserva-
tive Democratic Party TO save
that party from being engulfed
forever by the Roosevelt-led
left-wing.
The extent of the apprehen-
sions felt by old fashioned DEM
ocrats is enormous. They fear
that one more New Deal victory
in 1914 would mean the end of
the Democratic Party as il has
existed since the time OF its
founder, Andrew jackson.
THE situation that has been
l. precipitated by the revolts
in Texas, South Carolina and
Mississippi obviously is of a
character to be deeply disturb
ing to the President.
On the eve OF the most mo-
mentous political campaign in
his career, he finds himself
caught, as it were. between
southern conservatism on the
one hand and northern indus
trial radicalism on the other.
The left wing Of the New
Deal in the great war manufac-
turing cities of New England,
the middle states. Michigan
and the West Coast. already
deeply entrenched in political
and economic power, is politi-
cally indispensable 10 the con-
tinuation of the coalition now
in control Of the government.
Without the support of these
groups Mr.. Roosevelt cannot
hope TO be reelected. Yet these
groups, including the CIO and
the Communists. virtually have
taken over the leadership.
But as a price of their con-
tinued support they are MAX
ing demands which have
alarmed the South. which fears
two things in particular, Negro
political equality. leading TO So
cial equality. and the unioniza-
ton Of southern industries by
the Go.
GO u II K N conservative
~ Democrats have made GER
tain significant moves calcu-
lated TO give the President
much concern.
Certain states in which the
citizens vote only for presiden-
tial electors, and not directly
for the candidates for Presi-
dent and vice president. are in
position 10 throw the election
If the contest should be reason
ably close--into the House.
Mr.. Roosevelts problem Is
that which confronts every
poker player:
Is his opponent bluffing. or
has he really got four aces?
In other words, will the
South 60 through with this
anew plan to use the electoral
college as the Constitution in
tended. but as il has not been
ncnA for t,,Ax1 tLa~