Evening star., 1947-07-03
Hull Could Have Been
President, Farley
Relates in Article
By the Associated Press

James A. Farley says he feels cer-
tain Cordell Hull could have won the
1910 Democratic presidential nomi-
nation hands down" and could have
been elected
Writing in Golfers magazine, Mr..
Farley related a conversation with
Mr.. Hull, then Secretary of State,
in which Mr.. Farley said Mr.. Hull,
John Nance Garner and himself
might have most of the delegates in
the convention, no matter what
President Roosevelt did. He quoted
Mr.. Hull as saying:
Jim, I find myself in most deli
cate situation. I do not want 1t to
appear that am capitalHing on my
achievements in the State Depart
ment. I am content to let all credit
60 to the President. If he chooses
to acknowledge my services. that Is
another thing. So far he has shown
no disposition to do So"
Il told Mr.. Hull that I was sure
he was overly concerned about the
possibility that he would be labeled
a glory hunter" Mr.. Farley wrote.
"Nethertheless, I have often felt
that these considerations moved Mr..
Hull to turn down a chance at the
presidency. I feel certain that he
could have secured the nomination
hands down and that he could have
been elected in 1910. I am equally
convinced that he would have made
a great President. zass
Tells of Hyde Park Talk.
Mr.. Farley, who said in an earlier
article that Mr.. Roosevelt told him
he would rot seek a third term, told
of a conference at Hyde Park IN
1910. Mr.. Farley said Mr.. Roose-
welt asked him:
Jim. what would you do If you
were in my place."
II am going to answer your ques-
tion," Mr.. Farley continued. I'm
your position I would do exactly
what Gen, Sherman did many years
ago-issue a statement saying I
would refuse to run If nominated
and would not serve if elected"
He said Mr. Roosevelt replied that
he could not refuse to take the
inaugural oath, even if I know I
would be dead within 80 days"
Commented Mr., Farley:
IT knew then that his mind was
made up. On the whole, I
never had any doubt that he had
made up his mind long before. I
am certain he had sold himself the
idea that he was the only one
qualified to serve during that par
ticular period of the Nations his
tory. He believed, I am sure. that
the world was in a terrible plight
and he hated to turn over the reins
Of Government to some one else"
Nothing in Life Certain"
Mr. Farley wrote that Mr.. Roose-
velt insisted upon the nomination
of Vice President "in good health
because there's no telling how long
1 can hold out"
You know, Jim, a man with
paralysis can have a breakup any
time" Mr.. Farley quoted Mr. Roose-
welt as saying. while my heart
and lungs are good and other organs
function along okay nothing
in this life is certain"
Mr.. Farley also reported that Mr..
Hull was ranked in May, 1910. by
Mr.. Roosevelt consulting with Mr.
Hull's subordinates without word
to the cabinet officer.
God, JIM" the article said Mr.
Hull exploded after Mr., Farley told
of some of his troubles with the
President, You don't know what
troubles are. Roosevelt is going
over my head to Welles and Berle.
q He's even going over my head
to ambassadors. He doesn't consult
with me or confide in me and !
have to feel my way in the dark" :"
Sumner Welles was Undersecre-
tary of State at the time and Adolf
A. Berle, jr., was an assistant
secretary,