The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-10-09

bipartisan set-up in the present
emergency, by naming Henry L.
Stimson and Frank Knox IA cou-
pie Of Republicans), respectively,
to head his war and navy depart
ments. Now. wouldn't il be still
more politically open = minded to
hand a portfolio over to his pres
ent C. o. P. presidential rival-as-
Stunning that he wins and that
Wendell is beaten?
But il Wendell wins? He's as
much pro-defense as the present
White House tenant is. He's pro
a lot of the New Deals domestic
detectives. What he criticizes
mainly is the method by which
F. D. r. has tried to arrive at
them. supposing he's elected,
wouldn't it be a nationally unity
ing act on his part to pick F. D. R.
as one Of his chief cabinet ad-
visers? Awhile ago he was quite
willing to confer with the presi-
dent, in the hope of hitting on a
mutually acceptable program that
would forestall any violent read
iustment OF policies, in the event
o. a change in administrations.
Just in Parenthesis
Speaking parenthetically:
Just as congress was nearing
adjournment or a recess. Repre-
sentative E. E. Cox Of Georgia In
troduced a resolution expressing
legislative approval Of the presi-
dental deal by which the United
States traded so destroyers to
John Bull in return for string OF
Yankee military bases on British
islands off our Atlantic coast and
down intosthe Caribbean.
This wasn't as pro-adminlstra-
tionistic a resolution as may APP
pear on its surface.
Representative Cox. though
Democrat, is an anti-New Dealer.
He considered the destroyer dick
sr a good thing for Uncle Sam, but
Ne didn't believe that the govern
ment's executive end was entitled
to conclude it without congress
sional sanction. 1t was done thus
and he couldn't help it. He didn't
want TO upset II, either. Never
theless, he wanted to give the
White House tip that he thought
It had overstepped its authority.
Plenty Of his fellow lawmakers
agreed with him. And those who
didn't couldn't very well oppose
its resolution
In effect, its notice to the White
House was, You'd no right to do
what you did, without consulting
us lin congress), but we're acqui-
escing in it, because, after all, we'd
have Endorsed 1t, anyway. II 1t had
been put up TO us-as it ought to
have been. gol durn you!"
Back to the Cabinet
But to get back to a bipartisan
cabinetl
It's understandable that Wendell
Willkie, If elected president, might
reasonably choose Franklin D.
Roosevelt as his state secretary.
They're not much at odds on our
foreign policy. Wendell thinks the
New Deal has bungied its de-
fensive preparations. but, in gen.
eral, he's as defensive, as Pan
American, as pro-British. as anti
japanese and all that kind Of stuff
as anybody.
It's hard to see why, perhaps
with a few notifications. Frank
lin D. Roosevelt shouldn't make a
frst-class secretary Of state for
him. And (who knows?) F. D. R.
might be drafted for the job.
II Franklin's reelected. though,
the situation will be more compli-
Gated.
Should that happen, Cordell
Hull assuredly will prefer TO hang
onto his state secretarial assign
ment, and that's the only portfolio
that Wendell Is bit likely to
deem worthy his notice. Doubt
less. he'll be well qualified to pre-
side at the headquarters Of sew
eral other departments-treasury
postofice, interior, commerce. agri-
culture (he's farmer), labor Che's
been workingman also) and there
are numerous commissions and