Tax collector to head drive for 4th term
Democratic campaign expected to be similar to that of 1940
By Lyle C. Wilson, United Press staff writer
Washington – (Jan. 15)
President Roosevelt’s fourth-term campaign – now generally regarded as inevitable – will apparently be similar to that of 1940 but conducted under new management.
The President’s only response to public inquiry about his political plans has been that the question was picayune.
But some of the most experiences political observers in this capital are convinced now that he will be a candidate for one reason if for no other.
Only one with chance
That reason is that no other Democrat would have more than the merest chance to be elected.
Observers believe that the only Democrat who would have any kind of a chance against Mr. Roosevelt in a fight for delegates and a convention showdown would be Secretary of State Cordell Hull. And even his best political friends concede that if Mr. Hull licked Mr. Roosevelt in the convention, the Republicans could defeat him in the election.
Furthermore, there is no one here who thinks for a moment that Mr. Hull would make the attempt.
Will accept ‘draft’
Therefore, with all war questions aside, there is persuasive evidence that Mr. Roosevelt this year will adopt the strategy of 1940 and permit an overwhelming majority of convention delegates to be pledged to him and then accept their nomination for another term in the White House.
The new campaign manager is evidently to be Robert E. Hannegan, a Missourian who is presently Commissioner of Internal Revenue. The capital expects Postmaster General Frank C. Walker to resign the chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee when that body meets here next week to fix the time and place of the nominating convention.
Mr. Walker took the job as a favor to Mr. Roosevelt after Edward J. Flynn of New York resigned last January.