The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-08-20
THE PURGE STRIKES AT O'CONNoR

THE PURGE STRIKES AT O'CONNOR
If the fight now being waged by Presi-
dent Roosevelt to make effective in this
country what is commonly known as the
purge" has the ultimate effect of teach
ing millions of citizens of the nation some
greatly needed lessons about the true ma
lure of their government, as it existed be-
fore its seizure by the radicals, it may be
worth all it costs.
This thought is emphasized by the atti-
tu,e and action of Congressman O'Comor
Of New York. marked for destruction by
Roosevelt. who asserts that the president
is trying to play the role of dictator.
That proposition, says Congressman
I'Connor. has never been openly and fair
~ presented to the people of this country.
r The people desire to extend an invitation
for the setting up Of a dictatorship, the
nation should be informed; the step should
hor be taken under cover: it should be no
leap in the dark Roosevelt and his sup
lorters ought to publicly announce their
intentions and let the American citizens
vaice their opinion of the proposal.
The New York Congressman points out
that Mr.. Roosevelt has loudly proclaimed
he is not attempting to make himself die
tator: but the Congressman then directs
attention 10 the uuvarniShcd fact that the
presidents words do not square with his
deeds aud his actions speak so much loud
or than his words the country cannot hear
shat he says.
! Congressman O'ConHor accepts ROose-
teIts challenge and gives him verbal cas-
tigating which will undoubtedly attract
attention throughout the country. His an
5wcr to the president is SO logical and rea-
a0nabie that it leaves that gentleman high
and dry and without a comeback,
The most impressive statement by the
Congressman is one which, Il is hoped will
aarn the thoughts of the people of this
country 10 honest and patriotic conSidera-
ton Of the nature and structure of the
American republic and ultimately redeem
the country from the spree of political i'll
sanity in which it is now indulging.
Congressman O'Connor directs attention
To the fact that he and all other members
df Congress, including both lower and up
Der house, are the representatives of the
aeople who elected them. They do not as
aemblc in the capitol to represent the pres
lUenr: they owe him no obligation. They
are not in his department of the govern
pent.
If members of Congress owed allegiance
to the president it would simply mean that
the chief executive was a king or dictator,
rot the elected representative Of the peo-
pie in one of the three departments of gov
crnment. In countries governed by mon
archs or dictatOrS, in One-man govern
mentS, one man receives all homage and
His commands are law. That is not the
Status of any republic or democratic gov
arument where the elected representatives
of the people hold their authority from the
people and owe no allegiance to anybody
other than the citizens of the country.
Therefore, Congressman O'Connor re-
iiiSeS to take orders from the president ;
refuses 10 become a yes man or rubber
stamp. and he boldly declares that no
president has legal or moral right to
biad his conscience as a representative OF
the people or require unquestioning obedi-
ence to orders from the executive depart
nent.
In his position the New York Congress-
han is exactly and eternally right.
The salient point, as far as the public is
concerned, however is that the nation has
millions of citizens who know little or moth
ing of our form of government; they are