The Lincoln Times

THE FOURTH TERM CANDIDACY.

Those columnists who had the temerity to predict some time ago that President Roosevelt would not be a candidate for a fourth term are already beginning to hedge. They see the handwriting on the wall.

While President Roosevelt took no part in the proceedings of the Democratic National Committee in Washington recently and did not talk politics with the members of the committee, the outspoken demands of the Democratic politicians that Mr. Roosevelt be a candidate again cannot be mistaken.

Mr. Roosevelt has given no reply and doubtless will not do so until what he regards as the psychological moment has arrived. It may even be that Mr. Roosevelt is tired and does not relish the idea of running for another term although this is doubted in many quarters. Yet the fact is Mr. Roosevelt must run if he does not want to see the New Deal he has so carefully built up in ten years of administration, crash like a house of cards.

The Democrats want Mr. Roosevelt to run and will draft him if it is necessary because there is no other man in either wing of the party who has a chance of winning in November. Out in the country the people are against the increase of bureaucracy which the New Deal has brought them. The only possible issue on which the New Deal party can win again is "stand by your Commander in Chief."

It is because there is no other candidate with a possibility of winning in sight that we have always maintained Mr. Roosevelt will be a candidate again. This holds good whether or not the European war is ended. If Mr. Roosevelt does not run again, just whom would the party select to take his place? What man could line up the radical left wing headed by Harry Hopkins and Vice President Wallace and at the same time get the active support and confidence of men like Senator Byrd and Jesse Jones? Cordell Hull came nearest doing so but he is getting up in years and it is doubtful whether the left wingers would be satisfied even with him.

The politicians and leaders in both political parties want to win above everything else. That is why the renomination of Mr. Roosevelt is inevitable.

Gov. Dewey has declined to run as a Republican candidate. If he is drafted it will be because the leaders of his party think he has the best chance of winning in November.