The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1939-10-26
Economic . =.
M9hA9hA

there has been quiet on the political
front in this country. The attention
of the great bulk of the American
people is today largely centered
abroad where history of the most
momentuous kind is being made. And
so partisan politics, for the time be-
ing, has pretty much dropped out of
the spotlight. You can't stir up much
interest in Candidate Whoozis' po-
litical ambitions when ships are being
sunk and armies of unprecedented
size are facing each other on the
Western Front.
President Roosevelt has several
times said, in effect, that partisanship
should be adjourned for the duration
Of the emergency-that national unity
should be the paramount goal sought
by all, Republicans and Democrats
alike. This viewpoint has naturally
been endorsed by his political op-
ponents. But the fact remains that
partisan politics is an essential mott
waiting factor in any democratic nation
it exists and must continue to exist.
Both parties will have candidates in
the field next year. Both will have
platforms. Both want to win. And
you can't fight a campaign without
|partisanship.
The problem facing the politicians
lis how to fight their verbal battles
without alternating public which feels
strongly that this country must appear
unified in the eyes of the world. That's
ia tough problem, and the burden of
it, of course, falls on the Republicans.
The Democrats are in the saddle now,
and the Republicans hope is to unseat
them. And the question of what issue
to use for that purpose is causing
many severe headache among party
chieftains.
Of late, the only domestic issue of
great moment has been our neutrality
legislation. And over that the party
lines split wide open. Where, for in
stance, potent Republican Sen. Borah
Immediately announced he favored rig
orous isolationism, potent Republican
Senator Taft stood with the President
in support of cash-and-carry for arms
as well as everything else. Neither po-
litical group, as a result, can make a
good campaign issue out of neutrality
unless something happens to change
the picture drastically.
Republican strategy now seems to
be to bide it's time and wait and see
what happens. Leaders apparently
feel it would be suicidal to take an
aggressive partisan line now, and
most Independent commentators think
they are right.
On the Democratic side of the fence,
matters are somewhat simpler. But
there is a big question mark there
too-and it concerns the possibility
that Mr.. Roosevelt may be planning
to do the unprecedented and seek a
third suggestive term. If the President
lis thinking of that, recent public opin-
ion polls must have encouraged him
they Indicate that opposition to the
|third-term has dropped rather sharply
in the past month or two.
Some think the fact that the Presi-
dent has refused to say he will not
run again-as was recently requested
by Governor Landon, who said that
would be of great benefit in futhering
the national unity the President asks. {.
indicates that he plans to. On the
other hand, a Presidential declaration
to that effect now would undoubtedly
start tremendous scurrying about
among Democratic aspirants to the
White House, at the expense Of unity
within the party. Those in the know
in Washington think that the Presi-
dent has not expressed himself on the
third-term issue even to his closest
Iadvisors-that no one, save the Chief
Magistrate himself, knows whether he
will run or not. And it is obvious that
unforeseen events of the future in this
uncertain world could determine the
decision.
The war has brought one boom to
this hemiSphere-it has immensely
ISolidified the American Republicans,
all the way from the Great Lakes to
Cape Horn.
Inc Latln-Amerlcan countries, ike
their "big brother" the u. S., are ex-
tremely eager not only to keep out
Of war, but to take any and all steps
which might help prevent the war
from dislocating their economies more
than is necessary. In this endeavor,
they naturally look to us, the prin-
.cipal military and economic power in
the hemisphere. When Under Secre-
tary of State Welles went to the Pan
American parley at Panama, he was
given an extremely enthusiastic well
come by Latin American statesmen.
Biggest thing to come out of the
parley was the safety zone," which
completely surrounds North and South
America with the natural exception
ia IL