The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1939-10-05
Economic . i.
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Imediately to the business of repeating
the arms embargo, are apparently due
for disappointment. The Presidents
strong speech, though it contained no
surprises, and simply dramatically re-
literated the Administrations past po-
Isition, apparently made the isolation
ist bloc more than ever determined to
do everything in it's power to prevent
the sale of implements of war to bel
Iligerents. News dispatches Indicate
there is little chance for showdown
before October Goth or later.
The apparently certain delay which
will occur before the cash-and-carry
proposal will be brought to vote en-
dangers the White House plan. A re-
|cent count showed that "a senator's
which is only FIVE short of majority
had gone on record in favor Of re-
peal of the embargo, while only 20
were definitely in favor of maintain
ing it. In other words, if the proposal
would be brought to a vote at once it
would probably pass, by safe mar
gin. But, as time goes by, the isola-
|tionists get in stronger and stronger
licks. 1t is said that Congressional
mail, which is reaching the lawmakers
desks in almost unprecedented guam
tity, runs five to one against repeal.
The opponents of repeal have lined up
a number of champions who hold no
public positions, but have large and
extremely diverse followings-Henry
Ford, Colonel Lindbergh, Captain
Eddie Rickenbacker, Herbert Hoover,
Father Coughlin, etc. The fact that
some of these men often differ vio-
lently in viewpoint when it comes to
most matters, has made it impossible
to form an organized cohesive "peace
bloc" as was first planned. But that
doesn't necessarily make their work
less effective. And the senators who
are fighting repeal, such as Johnson
and Borah, are seasoned campaigners,
who know every parliamentary trick,
and have championed with success
many seemingly lost cause before.
1t is pointed out in thinking quar-
ters that prolonged and bitter debate
and, going by remarks made follow
ing the Presidents speech, it seems
certain that much angry name-calling
will mar congressional arguments
may endanger the national interest.
In other words, if both sides insist
that victory for the other side would
make American armed Intervention
certain, lot of people may believe it
whether or not it is true, and thus
make drift into war easy. And this
brings us to the present attitude of
the people toward mixing in Europe's
quarrel. Going by all the available
evidence, it is obvious that we are
overwhelmingly opposed to getting in.
That may seem paradox in view of
the fact that, according to recent
Fortune poll, something less than one
per cent Of the people are for Ger
many. But we have not yet forgotten
the disillusionment of the last war:
we remember that Europe still owes
us some $10,0C0,000, in war debts
which will never be paid unless a ma
ior miracle occurs. And many of us
think that Britain and France, even
though we want them to win, have
made a terrible mess of matters the
last five years. And, of vital import
ance, the potency of foreign atrocity
propaganda seems to have a far small
er chance of being effective than in
1914-191S.
This is, however. a poor time to
gamble with forecasting the future,
and ANYTHING can happen. Those
columnists who tell YOU to take vour
foreign news with MANY grains of
salt these davs probably offer first
class advice. In the meantime, YOUR
attention is going to be riven largely
to Washington news for the next few
weeks, and it will make exciting read
ing. The cash-and-carry cohorts have
the edge now, but the isolationists
haven't given up the ship bv a long
shot and they have potent weapons at