The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-02-12

that ANYTHING ,. w.FitsPatrscls
which Mr.. Roosevelt proposes, TO
certain groups and to large sec
ton Of the American press, which
section charity Of speech forbids
to describe as anything more than
''reactionary," Is not to be enter
tanned for an instant. This oppo-
sitiOn 10 not based upon the con-
tent Of the proposal but upon the
personality Of the proposer. The
other point TO keep in mind Is that
to a certain type Of individual
and 1t is not an uncommon type
in the higher reaches Of our So
ciety-anything which sav0rs Of
change Is wrong and as such must
be fought to the death. Contrasted
to this type Is another which looks
upon everything new as valuable
and anything that Is old as value
less. Different from both types Is
the overwhelmingly too rare
which looks at things with an eye
free from prejudice, political par
tisanship, or personal aspect. This
type, which may be described as
philosophic or objective-minded, Is
the kind which will Judge the
Presidents proposal not in the
light Of dislike or affection Tor
him as a man but as II Is in itself.
Unfortunately the persons who are
gifted with, or have developed, this
objective nindedness will have
nothing to say about Mr.. Roose-
velt,s plan being enacted into the
law Of the land.
Test
In studying the opposition to
any kind OF legislation 1t Is a dis
Greet thing before considering the
legislation to take look at those
who oppose 1t. Not infrequently
when that Is done 1t Is not neces-
sary to study the legislation at all.
The identity Of the opponents Is
sufiicient to demonstrate the mer-
Its OF what they oppose. To make
the point clear let us say that a
legislative measure has been writ
ten and Is being sponsored by the
Women,s Christian Temperance
Union or the Anti-Saloon League.
Once that Is known 1t takes no ex-
haustive mental effort to come to
the conclusion that the measure "
not intended to benefit drinker or
drink purveyor. Bills introduced
by Communists are by virtue OF
that circumstance indicative that
they are not In agreement with
the political PHILOSOPHERS, either OF
the democratic or the republican
party. When the Republican Town
Committee Of Waterbury intro
duces into the Connecticut Gem
eral Assembly a set Of bills, IS y
has done, to improve the conduct
Of our municipal business, IT Is az
plain as the nose ON your face
that the bills are aimed not TO
produce better municipal opera
ton but 10 bolster up the repub-
lican party I'm Waterbury. They
are simply republican sticks TO
beat the democratic dog. The same
would be true If there were d re-
publican city administration and
similar bills were to be introduced
by the Waterbury Democratic
Town Committee. Apply the the
DRY set forth In the preceding
lines to the opponents OF President
Roosevelt,s proposal and the
ground is Immediately cleared for
q consideration Of that proposal
on It's merits and on no other.
Significant
It was significant and very illu-
minating that the first criticism Of
the Roosevelt proposition that Is
only what 1t is--was that he was
trying TO pack" the Supreme
Court with judges who would be
in sympathy with his political
theories and principles. Read over
the editorials In the conservative
(?) press and you will find that
note instantly and repeatedly em-
phasized. The President was en-
deavoring to "pack" the court. BY
hook or crook, especially the lat
ter, the Chief Executive OF the
United States Of America was go
ing to have his way and exercise
his will regardless OF everything.
To me that accusation alone
damns to the deepest hell most Of
the opponents to the Presidents
plan. It amounts TO q direct In
dictment Of complete dishonesty
against the man whom the Amer
lean people have elected TO lead
them and to- safeguard their we'll
being. Millions Of Americans have