Evening star., 1944-08-27

The slowly developing pattern of the
Roosevelt fourth-term campaign strate-
gy is beginning to resemble that Of four
years ago, and with the election little
more than go days distant, question
OF increasing interest is just how far
this similarity will 60.
As was the case in 1940 Mr.. RooSe-
welt is making another bid for the presi-
dency against a background of expressed
reluctance to remain in office, but with
the conviction also expressed, that 1t is
his duty to do so-if the people want it
that way. Again he has declared his in
tention not to compaign lin the usual
sense" but, as he said in the San Diego
acceptance speech, Il shall, however,
feel free to report to the people the
facts about matters of concern to them,
and especially to correct any misrepre-
Gentations.'
This, substantially, was Mr.. Roose-
velt's stand when accepting the third
term 'draft"-that he would not have
the time or inclination" to engage in
purely political debate" unless forced
to 1t by the tactics of the opposition. 1t
was not until mid October, 1910, that the
defense inspection" trips which were
permitting the President to get around
In the role of director of nightly re-
arming program, were abandoned for
the frankly-political sorties in which he
donned the mantle of candidate and
sJumped through the East to New Eng
land, and as far West as Cleveland, by
train and auto, in territory where the
electoral vote stake is high.
Stumbling Blocks Cited.
In his newly-emphasized role as
Commander in Chief, the Presidents
recently concluded trip to the Pacific
might be looked upon as the forerun-
ner of similar Journeys that would
serve the same purpose as did the de-
tense inspections, to be followed by the
standard-type political swing when and
II 1t should be decided that the Dewey
challenge called for action.
The stumbling block in the way of
repeat performance, however, is the
wartime secrecy imposed on the Presi-
dents travels, and, even though that
were lifted, further complicating fac
tor Is the tremendous task that would
be imposed on the Secret Service and
policing forces wherever Mr.. Roosevelt
might go, to insure his safety.
The radio, of course, offers an easv
alternative, and Mr.. Roosevelt probably
will use this medium literally. But
whether he and his advisers will con-
clude that this is an adequate substitute
for personal appearance, is something
else.
Senator Truman of Missouri the vice
presidential candidate, will carry the
ball In the early stages, as is evident
from the moves thus far made. On
Thursday, the notification ceremony at
the Truman birthplace in Lamar. Mo-.
where the Senator will speak. is ex-
pected to draw party members not only
from Missouri, but likewise from Kansas.
Arkansas and Oklahoma. The following
Monday, Senator Truman will deliver a
Labor Day talk at Detroit, which will
provide a forum for emphasizing the
benefits of the Roosevelt labor policies
to the workers of the country.
Beyond that, there is nothing definite.
with this possible exception: The entire
oratorical effort may be expected to
stress the Importance of keeping the
country We'll with young DR.. Win-the-
War, President Roosevelt's announced
candidate to supplant old DR.. New Deal.
1910 Stressed Incumbent's Ability.
The 1910 campaign, which is of in
terest now because it may hint to some
degree what can be looked for this year,
was unique, not only because of the
thlrd-term issue, but because it demon
strated how effectively an incumbent of
the presidency seeking denomination
could advance his cause by an oblioue
approach.
AT the outset, Mr.. Roosevelt told re-
porters that he would not feel at liberty
10 get more than a few hours" awav
from Washlngton-he later specified u
or 14-and he stuck to this. Within q
short while Of his nomination, q week.
end tour of installations in the Hampton
Roads area gave an inkling of what was
10 come. AS July ended, the President
had a front porch" session with
group of agriculture representatives at
the White House, and then it was an.
nounced that more defense trips were
in prospect.
Early August found Mr.. Roosevelt %.
Ing into New England for a weekend
survey OF sea and land defenses that
brought him at least briefly into eyery
state but Vermont, and included visits
to the Portsmouth and Boston Navv
Yards, and the Watertown en- "
arsenal.
In the middle of the month, he went
TO Norwood, N. Y, to inspect the ma
neuvers of the 1st Army, and to Ogdens-
burg, where he met Prime Minister
Mackenzie King of Canada, for the con-
versations that resulted in the forma-
ton of the joint Canadian American
Defense Board
Mentioned No Names.
In the meantime. Wendell W!.,kie also
was doing some defense inspection"
but with sort of reverse English. The
Republican candidate was telling the
country that the program was hopelesslv
inadequate and poorly organized, and
challenging President Roosevelt to de-
bate on the issue. The def went un-
noticed-publicly. An interesting side
light of the entire campaign was that
neither candidate ever mentioned the
other by name.
The Democratic candidate still was
moving along under wraps as August
ended hl1t O cy,ooch IN eor.o sno