Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-01-02
Domestic Issues Loom Large
In Coming Election Campaign
ny GOULD LINCOLN.


ny GOULD LINCOLN.
The new year appears to be fate
full one for Republicans and Demo-
Gratis alike. and there is almost every
prospect for a sizzling political
campaign.
Always, however, there is the
chance that the war, moving into
higher tempo, may turn America S
attention from the national elec-
tons. The war in Europe may be
over by summer or early fall and
throw the spotlight more surely en-
domestic affairs, even though the
important war In the Pacific Still
will be on.
President Roosevelt has made 1t
clear that the war should be an
issue, with new slogan, Win the
War;" replacing that of the New
Deal" The Republicans. claiming
they are as anxious to win the war
as the Democrats, refuse to be
diverted from attacks on the ad-
ministration.
Representative Taber of New
York. ranking Republican on the
House Appropriations Committee
yesterday suggested that if under the
Presidents leadership, the New Deal
party had become nameless. the Re-
publicans might provide a slogan
for fourth term campaign"
H.. u,,,~nco,,. u;@Io
while the President says it is the
ex-New Deal party" Mr.. Taber said,
that is purely a negative approach.
I suggest that from now until next
November the description, with the
addition of Just two letters. might
be the exit New Deal party"
Senator Wagner, Democrat, of New
York, an administration supporter,
countered Republican statements
that Mr.. Roosevelt Is working for q
fourth term with an expression of
personal belief that the Chief Execu-
tive hasn't given the matter any
concern"
Senator Wagner said he had no
idea whether the President would
accept another nomination, but
added, II would regard it as I'M
fortunate, If the war was still on,
that he should be replaced It's
too early to talk about candidates..
The job now is to win the war"
To Set Conventions.
This week Republican leaders will
begin their trek to Chicago. On
January 10, the Republican State
chairmen will gather there to dis
cuss plans for the coming cam
paign with members of the Ma
tional Committee. The next day the
National Committee will get down
to the work of picking a date and a
city Ior the COP national conven-
ton.
The following week, the Demo-
cratic National Committee is to
meet in Washington to take similar
action. The Democratic meeting
will be capped by a jackson Day
which will be addressed by
Mr.. Roosevelt or to which the Pres
ldent will send a message.
The Republicans hope for a har-
monious meeting. The only cloud
on the horizon is a possible knock
down-drag-out fight against Chi
cago as the convention city by sup
porters of Wendell l.. Willkie-who
regard the Windy City and Illinois
as one of the hardest nuts for them
to crack.
Chicago, however, appears to be
the most popular choice for the COP
convention because 1t is centrally To-
Gated and because the Office of De-
Tense Transportation has recon-
mended it for both party conven-
tons. The dyed-in- the-Wool Will
kieites are minority ON the ma
tlonal committee Their only hope
is that supporters of other cities
Cleveland, Detroit, Kansas City and
Philadelphia-may join with them
in their effort to block the selection
OF Chicago. A defeat for the Chi
cago idea would be claimed imme-
diately as 'Willkie victory"
COP Meeting Due First.
The preponderance of opinion is
that the date set for the Republican
convention will be the latter part of
June or early July. Whatever date
Is selected, the Democrats will fix
the date of their convention still
later. With Mr.. Roosevelt as their
prospective candidate, the lateness
OF the Democratic convention is not
1t has been limited that
the Democrats may at their meeting
decide to hold their convention in
Chicago and let the Executive Com
mlttee determine the date.
The Republicans face their pre-
convention meeting with faith that
their presidential nominee will have
good chance of election. No crys-
tallzation on candidate has taken
place. Many Republicans believe
their best man is Gov. Thomas E.
Dewey Of New York, who has said
he is not and will not be candidate
for the nomination. Supporters of
Gov. John Bricker of Ohio. Mr..
Willkie and other possibilities" are
putting forth strenuous efforts.
Senator Lodge, Republican. of
Massachusetts, yesterday laid down a