Greymouth Evening Star. MONDAY, JUNE 26, 1944. U.S.A.’S PRESIDENT.

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 June 1944, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. MONDAY, JUNE 26, 1944. U.S.A.’S PRESIDENT.

pEACE has its campaigns no less than war, and one of the most important, the election of a President and Vice-Pre-sident of the U.S.A., reaches an important stage, this week, when the Republican Convention meets-at Chicago, to nominate the Party candidates. The Democrats will gather together in the same city next month for a similar purpose. The actual election will take place in November,.>the elected assuming office about the following March. With the retirement of Mr. Wendell Willkie from the field, Mr. Dewey, Governor of New York State, became the leading Republican nomination, and although, he has not yet formally announced that he would accept nomination, it is believed that he will do so, if chosen by the Convention. Other names have been mentioned, but Mr. Willkie’s withdrawal and General MacArthur’s rel’nsal, left Mr. Dewey in a strong position, ft is possible that an “outsider” may defeat the favourite.

Mr. Roosevelt is the only nomination yet seriously put forward by the Democrats, but he has said nothing definite as to whether lie would accept a fourth term as President. There was a tremendous agitation in 1940 about Mr. Roosevelt standing for a third time, hut the long tradition against such extension having been broken, the people of U.S.A., for the most part, have been calm about a fourth term. Mr. Roosevelt’s duration in the Presidential office has become a source of national humour. An example of this was one of Bob Hope’s remarks when lie appeared before-the President at the recent White House correspondents’ dinner. “Roosevelt has been President so long,” said the wisecracking film star, “that when I was a boy, ray father told me, ‘Some day yon may grow up to be VicePresident.’ ” Mr. Wallace, as Vice-Presi-dent has been more prominent in public affairs than the holder of this office usually is. The gossips and columnists do not agree about the personal relations between Mr. Roosevelt and Mr. Wallace, and many await with interest the Democrat official nomination for the Vice-Pre-sidency.

Assuming that, Mr. Roosevelt and Mr. Dewey are chosen as the respective official candidates for the Presidency, the elec-tion-prophets are hesitating to declare who ■will win, but the chances appear to favour Mr. Roosevelt. His domestic policy has not been a pronounced success, his New Deal is mostly a failure, and he may lose some Labour support. His relations with Congress have not been over-friend-ly. and some of the Roosevelt glamour has worn thin. Nevertheless, there is a widespread feeling that the peace and early post-war policies were wiser conducted by Mr. Roosevelt who has been in charge of national affairs throughout the war. If by November, the Americans, assisted by the other United Nations, have Avon. great victories over Germany and Japan, Mr. Roosevelt would reap from this glory. Mr. Dewey has not the personal appeal possessed by his rival, but he has done notable public service, and his reputation is mounting. He will obtain advantage from the fact that many people will desire a change of President. To date, however, the prospects appear* to favour Mr. Roosevelt, whose re-election will gratify British people, who realise that he is strong on Anglo-U.S./Y. co-operation. Mr. Dewey and most Republicans have jettisoned much, of their one-time 11 Isolationist” attitude, and they accept the fact that the U.S.A, must take more active part in international affairs, but it is doubtful if they will go as far in this direction as will Mr. Roosevelt and the present Administration.