National Affairs: Varieties of No & Maybe

Infinite are the varieties of yes, no and maybe that can be uttered by prospective presidential candidates. Last week brought from Prospective Candidate Harry Truman a maybe shading slightly toward a yes, and from Prospective Candidate Paul Douglas the year’s solidest no.

Informed that his name will be entered in next year’s Democratic primary in Minnesota by petition (the candidate’s consent is not required), Truman replied to Minnesota’s Democratic Senator Hubert Humphrey: “Thank you.” When he was told that he will be placed in the Oregon primary by petition, he said nothing.

When Illinois’ Senator Douglas was informed that petitions were being circulated to put him in the Oregon race against Truman, he sent a wire asking his friends to desist. Then Douglas tried for a 100% no. On a nationwide radio hookup, he said: “I will have to do the Sherman* and say that I would not run if nominated, I would not serve if elected . . . and I am no more a candidate for the vice presidency than I am for the presidency.”

* In 1864, General William Tecumseh Sherman wrote: “If forced to choose between the penitentiary and the White House for four years, I would say the penitentiary, thank you.” In 1884, he wired the Republican National Convention at Chicago: “I will not accept if nominated, and will not serve if elected.”