Evening star., 1944-06-14
Democrat Convention
DeIoy Stirs Questions
June Was Customary Date;
Transport Waste Seen

June Was Customary Date;
Transport Waste Seen
By David laurence
Why Is the Democratic national con-
vention being held on July 10 instead Of
in June7
This question has never been satis-
factorily answered by the Democrats.
For one thing, the customary date Of
the convention in prewar years was
during the month of June. Also, the
chice Of Defense Transportation has
been trying to discourage the holding Of
trade and business conventions, and u
has been assumed that the two major
parties would cooperate with respect to
the selection Of dates 20 that q minimum
amount of transportation facilities
would have to be used.
As 1t is, there viii be considerable
waste. Between 500 and 1000 persons
connected with the press, radio and
communication companies win have to
travel to Chicago and back twice. If
the two conventions had been scheduled
to follow one another consecutiveiy, this
waste Of transportation, as well a.
money, would have been avoided.
Approved BY Roosevelt.
The date for the Democratic national
convention Is understood to have been
approved personally by President Roose-
welt. 1t was said that 1t had, something
to do with his desire. for short cam.
psign. This can hardly be the reason,
because the length of q campaign is not
determined by one political party. 1t Is
determined by both.
There was some suggestion, too, that
II the Democratic convention was held
a long time after the Republican con-
vention, it would embarrass the Re-
publicans because they would not know
the names of the candidates on the
Democratic ticket. But 1t is a foregons
conclusion that the ticket will be Roose-
velt and Wallace and the Republicans
already are mapping out their strategy
accordingly.
The selection of as late a date as
the 18th Of July is commonly supposed
to have some relationship to the war
situation abroad. 1t is now being widely
runored that the President expects to
be in France during the Democratic ma
tional convention 50 that he can appear
to be completely detached from the
action Of the convention itself.
In 1910 the attempt of the Presidents
friends to give the impression that the
third-term nomination was spontaneous
and that 1t was real draft" fell by
the wayside. The booming voice from
the sewer" with a loudspeaker device,
which beloved forth unctuously the
name of State after State that wanted
Mr.. Roosevelt, represented a new low
in convention behavior that has not
been forgotten. Maybe the President
himself was ashamed OF 1t and decided
tina. he would not appear to have any
connection with the convention itself
this time while 1t is in progress.
There Is also the possibility that he
may wish to disconnect himself from
the selection of q vice presidential
candidate. The labor unions, and par
sticularly the GIG. however, have already
taken care Of the vice presidency on
the Roosevelt ticket by concentrating in
support Of Mr.. Wallace, so any poSsi-
bility Of the Presidents antagonizing
/ the Southern Democrats by leaning
|. toward Mr.. Wallace has now been re-
moved. TO put it another way, M.
Wallace's denomination Is so well as
sured because Of labor union support.
and because Of the support Of the New
Deal political machine in the Northern
States. that the President does not have
to take any part in the selection process.
Informed on Strategy.
Mr.. Roosevelt, Of course, by virtue OF
his position as commander in chief.
possesses all the confidential informa-
tion concerning the movements Of the
Army and Navy and strategic plans. He
alone Of our public officials outside the
armed services knew the approximate
week and month in which the invasion
would be launched. He knew also the
probable length of the first phase of the
campaign and may have picked July
10 because he believed that the latter
part of July would see substantial part
Of the first phase Of the invasion COM
pleted. This means that If the Presi-
dent chooses to 60 to Europe and visit
French territory, as did Prime Minister
Churchill this week, he would be able
to make the visit either during the
Democratic national convention or just
afterward.
It IS not to be forgotten that many
millions OF voters are overseas and while
it is said that not many Of them will
vote, nevertheless In different States
the soldier vote may play controlling
part in deciding close contest for the
electoral ballots of q particular State.
At last reports MIR. Roosevelt's candi-
dacy for fourth term appeared to have
curried favor among the troops who are
said to be impressed with the Com
mander in Chiefs argument namely,
the need for continuity.
Oaeproduction Rixhts ReservsdJ
Maritime Future
From the st. Louis Star-rimes.
John M Carmody head of the TJnited