The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-09-26


"Our people are against getting
involved in that mess, Mr.. Presi-
dent" he said forcefully
Il know that, Maury,' replied
Roosevelt. And SO am /. I can
assure you thai we are doing
everything IN our power to keep
out of it."
I'm glad TO hear that" con-
tinued Maverick. You know
was in the last war and got
pretty badly shot up. 1 came out
of it alive, but I've got a boy,
and figure by the law of aver
ages that if we get into another
war he may be killed. And /
don't want my son killed"
Neither do other parents want
their sons killed" replied Roose-
welt. "You mustn't forget that I,
too, have sons"
II realize that, Mr.. President"
replied Maverick, and then add
ed with a mischievous grin.
Some people know would
strongly favor, If we do go to
war, that your boy Elliott should
be the first one called"
The President was not amused.
He took a deep puff of his Gig
arctic and then said sterniy, "Oh,
Elliott is not so bad. know he is
inclined to talk too much at times,
but he is good boy. None of us is
perfect"
Well, I like Jimmy best" said
Maverick.
NOTE-Still ranking Maverick
is the fact that during his bitter
fight for reelection to the House
in 1888, Elliott secretly invited
the campaign manager of Maver-
ick's successful opponent on the
Presidents special train through
Texas. Maverick, who was also on
the train at Roosevelt's invitation.
raised such ruckus over Elliott'S
action that the rival manager was
kept under wraps.
WHITE HOUSE LOWDOWN
The real inside on the Presi-
dents message to Congress was
that his advocacy of cash-and-
carry was second thought. What
he privately favored was repeal
of the entire neutrality &C. and
a return to old fashioned interna-
ticnal law.
He proposed this guardedly at
his conference with congressional
and Republican leaders. But with
two exceptions, they are cold
to the idea and he dropped it.
Senate Foreign Relations Com
mittee Chairman Key Pittman
bluntly declared that the scheme
wouldn't muster five votes in the
committee. Senator James Byrnes,
astute South Carolinian with
kneen knowledge of Senate senti-
ment, agreed. He declared that
any move for complete repeal
would scare both the country and
the Senate, strongly counseled a
compromise course.
"The fight will be tough
enough anyway" Byrnes said.
II wouldn't add to the difficult
ties facing us by asking too
much"
The two exceptions were most
significant. They were Vice Presi-
dent Garner, who fought Roosevelt
to a standstill last session on
diplimatic policies. and Senator
Warren r. Austin of Vermont, Re-
publican Whip, who is probably
the most experienced man on
foreign affairs in congress through
his service as a member of the
U. S. Court in China plus eX-
tensive legal work in Canada.
Garner stressed two points:
FIRST, that the Constitution vests
sole administration of foreign pol
icy in the President: SECOND,
that the country has confidence
in Roosevelt.
"The people have confidence
in the President and the way he
is conducting the foreign affairs
Of the country" Garner declared.
They believe in him and think
he has done the right things"
Austin explained that he fav-
ored wiping out the neutrality act
and returning to international
law on the ground that this would
give Congress and the President
freedom of action to enact such
legislation to keep the country out
of war as European developments
make necessary.
Roosevelt made a forceful plea
for his plan, citing historical in
stances to support his arguments.
But in the end he left the mat
ter in the hands of the congress
sional group.