The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-10-26
Politics
in
Passing
~ RAYMoND }. FITzPATRICK

BIZ RAYMOND ). FITZPATRICK
There comes q time when it Is
not enough for q political COLI
umnist to interpret persons and
events, when personal feelings
must be expressed in defense OF
accomplishments and principles
that seem to be threatened. And
this is unquestionably such q time;
hence today we express the belief
that the reelection of President
Roosevelt would be best for Amer
ica and its people.
In June, before the Republican
national convention opened. there
was expressed here the wish that
the G. o. p. would choose Wen
dell L. WiIIkie as its candidate
for President. The writer's belief
then, and it was SO stated, was
that nomination of Willkie and
denomination of Roosevelt would
make for a campaign of clearly
cut issues, with the voters to de-
eide by their ballots whether they
wanted a continuance OF the New
Deal or a return to the laissez
faire philosophy of the Republic
can party. Many others hoped
for such campaign, which would
allow the people of the United
States to decide which type of
government they wanted, but we
all have had our expectations
spoiled. The candidates of Opp0s-
ing PHILOSOPHERS were nominated,
yes, but Willkie found it expedi-
ent not to argue for a return to
the rugged individualism" of the
party which honOred him with its
nomination for the most impCrt-
ant office in the world.
Willkie chose instead the argu-
ment that THE New Deal achieve
ments are splendid but We'll adj
minister them better" 1t was
much to the surprise of many
Republicans, including those who
had voted against them in Con-
gress. that their candidate for the
Presidency should espouse New
Deal reforms. Even today many
of them are unconvinced, despite
theit Willkie badges and their fer
vid speeches, as they prepare to
vote on election day And most
Of them feel, however little it
shows their regard for their par
tvs nominee, that, if elected, he
will bring back the "old ways"
1t would be easy to fill column
by pointing out some flaws in
WILKES armor, such as: his all
embracing espousal of public cleo
trio plants in utility conscious
Oregon despite his own utility job
while Republicans back east
crossed their fingers; his repeated
d. clarations in favor of labor in
visw CT the labor records of his
Ci7n utility corporation and its
sDbsid' aries, with their labor spies
and their tear gas: his obviously
false charges, like the one that the
President sold Czecho- SlOvakia
down the river" (afterward has
t'sy rctractedl; his being on both
sides of almost every important
i1tue; his denial of documented
allegations against him, like those
that he was an officer of Tam
many Hall and that he had
praised the unIamented Sam In
sui; his evidently appalling lack
of realization of the dignity and
Importance Of the Presidency
but it would be better to look at
the Presidents own record and
the arguments in favor of his re-
election.
Can even the oldest among us
remember when the average man
or woman was more interested in
politics, when he was more faz
miliar with the problems of the
cay? Without any argument,
most of the credit for this be-
longs to President Roosevelt and
his incubation upon the people of
the fact that they are the ma
ton. No campaign pledge was
ever better fulfilled than the one
that the Forgotten Man" of 1882
would be remembered. Thanks to
the President, the people have
learned to know that their elect
ed representatives are their
spokesman, that the problems con-
fronting the nation are their prob
lens.
That, to our mind, is perhaps
the outstanding achievement of
Rcosevelt's New Deal. The pe0-
pie have realized once more that
ultimately it is they who deter
mine policies, it is they who make
reforms. And that is only one of
many accomplishments on the
credit side of the Roosevelt
ledger.
Would Hoover, for instance, or
Willkie, if elected in 1882, have
generated the confidence neces-
sary to save the United States in
what history may call her darkest
hour, when banks were closing,
businesses going bankrupt, homes
being foreclosed, and men able
and willing to work selling apples
in the streets?
It's easy to say now that I'VE
can do it better" but Willkie was
busy with the financiers while
Roosevelt was saving America
from bankruptcy, preventing
financial panic and laying the
groundwork for the social reforms
that Willlxie now clasps, unaccus-
t0medly, to his bosom.
The gains of the average work.
ing man and woman (and that
category takes in most of us) un
der the Roosevelt administration
have been so great that it prob
ably will be many years before
they are evaluated truly. 1t was
through the New Deal that the
typist, the bod carrier, the ma
chinist, the white collar man, the
truck driver and all The rest he