The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-09-19
The Cherry Tree
Where We Hdtchet Ou'
The Truth
POLITICAL JOCKEYING
AFRAID OF CAMPAIGN
THEY SHOULD LOSE VOTES
COMMISSION DOING REAL
JOB

Of course it's just about all over
now, but that doesn't prevent good
husky yell of rebellion at the man.
ner in which the United States Con-
gress has been behaving itself, while
the world tottered.
There have been few political ex-
hibitions worse than the exhibition Of
political partisan jockeying for place
than we have been going through.
The universal selective service bill,
one of the most important pieces of
legislation ever written in America,
has been debated on level with the
worst mud gutter politics.
Bank isolationists and lame ducks
have made crazy holiday out of what
should have been very solemn pro-
ceeding. Names have been called and
blows have been struck by men who
ought to be out of their diapers, but
who have given US an exhibition of
mental infantilism-or worse.
And the worst of it is that we shall,
because nothing better is available,
have to vote for some of these men
again!
x X X
If it is to be said that the Presi-
dent resorted to devious procedure to
make the trade with Britain for naval
and air bases, what is to be said of the
devious reasoning, for example, of
Hamilton Fish, the great, big strap
ping New York ex-football player who
slid the sixty-day clause through the
House?
That amendment just about marks
low tide for politics, unless it can be
claimed that some of those who fol-
lowed him hit lower level.
The excuse for all of the antics is
that campaign is on.
So that's it. Because a campaign
is on, legislators have to show the
voters how foolish they can be. They
have to show how afraid of their own
shadows they can be. They have to
show how little sense they have, fear
ing that if they show some sense they
will lose some votes. THEY OUGHT
TO LOSE VOTES.
A choicer brand of Monkeyshines
isn't to be found, even in the biggest
of ZOOS.
If Congress has been silly about the
provisions governing selection of men,
it has been as silly about the pro-
visions relating to industry-perhaps
sillier.
AS a matter of fact, neither the
House provision nor the Senate pro-
vision was an actual draft of industry,
even though the political snake charm
ers, anxious to cater to supposedly in
telligent voters, sought to make it ap-
pear so.
One proposal was tantamount to
confscation; the other was the equal
of proposal to rent-on compulsory
basis, it is true, but to rent, just the
same.
The House provision was the equiv
lent of saying, owe have a capitalist
economy, but by this amendment we
will change it to a state socialist
economy, and nobody will know it un-
til they wake up"
Neither house has been any too
honest about telling the people just
what the proposals were intended to
mean, if indeed, they knew.
X X X
Of course the defense program will
go on, in spite of all obstacles.
The Defense advisory Commission,
working honestly without political
partisanship, is doing whale Of
good job.
But somehow, lot of men who are
elected to office think the main issue
is that they get reelected.
Whether any member gets reelected
is the least important of all the issues.
Whether America gets her de-
fense machinery built is the one
really big issue.
There are plenty of reasons for say
ing that, with all possible speed, there
may not be time enough.
Democracy can work with speed
and efficiency, if office holders can be
made to understand that the people
really want speed and efficiency and
will tolerate nothing less.
1t might be a good idea for OUR
Congressman and Senators to show,
next time, how wise they can be, how
fast they can act, rather than how
ctunid thav can he -CMW