The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 1944. PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT.

Evening Star, Issue 25083, 26 January 1944, Page 4

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 1944. PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT.

In November next the United States will elect its President for the four years following. Before the voting takes place the Democratic and Republican conventions will meet to choose their candidates. It is not surprising to see evidence of a; strong feeling among sections of the country that President Roosevelt should stand for a fourth term, in which case, if successful, he would break his present record of having held the office for three terms. A straw in the wind is a statement made this month by his secretary that Mr Roosevelt's desire is to discard the New Deal in favour of an all-out win-the-war policy. The Democratic National Committee has passed a resolution urging him to continue as " the greatest humanitarian leader both in war and in peace," while a conference of governors of the Southern States expressed their desire that he should remain within the Democratic fold. Outside the party ranks movements have been reported in favour of his re-election. The tradition established at the conclusion of Washington's second term of office was that two terms as President, should bo the limit. This was the unwritten law for eighty years, when ■Governor Grant tried, but failed, to secure nomination for a third term. The Democratic platform of 189 C affirmed it to be the unwritten law that " no man should be eligible for a third term of the Presidential office." The American people cling to their tradition's, but the greatest of them all is liberty, and the smaller issue had to give way to the greater when the totalitarian Powers tried to destroy the freedom of the world. The result was that Franklin Roosevelt, who_ had shown rare qualities as a champion of liberty, came in for his third term, and he has strengthened his hold on the country in a remarkable way.

One American commentator expresses the belief that President Roosevelt is deeply concerned about post-war problems/ and in that connection remembers that Woodrow Wilson won the last war and lost the peace. He lost it because lie lost Congressional support. 'Remembering this, Mr Roosevelt is trying to win his post-war treaty battle in. the Senate now. Mr Wendell Willkie, who contested the last election with the present President, seems likely to win the Republican nomination this year, but his attitude to world affairs has brought much criticism from within his party, particularly from those still tinged with isolationist doctrines. General MacArthur's name has been frequently mentioned as that of a candidate for the Presidency, but a message from South-west Pacific headquarters contradicted reports that he was likely to go ington soon for conferences, resign his commission, arid contest the election. General Mae Arthur is doing a great job now. and he would hardly give up his uncompleted task to pursue personal ambitions. The _ democratic world has tremendous faith in President Roosevelt, and it will hope to see him retained in nn office that lie has filled with marked ability and success.