The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-07-04

(By Staff Writer)

Washington. - No democracy
ever fought war or got ready
to fight in defense of itself as fast
and as unanimously as the United
States is preparing to meet all
corners, in case anybody wants
to take anything we've got. No
democracy, however, has ever
planned or carried out a war
without the interference of poll
ticians, seeking personal or par
ty advantages.
It is just as well to keep that
in mind when listening to politi-
cal criticism Of the way in which
the greatest program of national
defense in the history of this and
probably of any other country is
being carried out.
Under the American system OF
party government, the party in
power is responsible for foreign
relations, including war. 1t is i'm
possible, under our system, to
have a coalition government in
which the responsibility for for1
eign relations, including war. 1t
is impossible, under our system.
to have a coalition government in
which the responsibility is shared
by both or all parties. But it is
possible for the President to ap-
point as members of his Cabinet
eminent leaders of the OPPOSE
ton party, in order to keep war,
or the preparedness for a war,
from becoming lop-sidedly parti-
san
President Wilson did just that.
When his Secretary of State, Mr..
Bryan, thought he was taking too
firm a tone toward Germany, Mr..
Bryan stepped out of office and
Mr.. Wilson appointed in his place
Mr.. Lansing, a rock-ribbed Rep
ublican, who served at the head
of the State Department until af-
ter the final treaty of peace was
signed.
That precedent is being pointed
to by way of explaining Presi-
dent Roosevelt's appointment of
Henry L. Stimson to succeed Har-
ry Woodring as Secretary of War
Mr.. Stimson is a Republican, who
served Republican Presidents as
Secretary of War and Secretary
of State. Mr.. Woodring did not
see eye to eye with the President
in the matter of giving aid to the
Allies by letting England and, so
long as they were able to do so,
France, buy, surplus" fighting
planes and other Army materials
from us. So. Mr.. Woodring is out
and Mr.. Stimson is in his place
Favors Intervention
Mr.. Stimson has expressed him
self freely and fully in favor of
American intervention in the
war, against Germany and on the
side of England. His position in
the Cabinet is like that of Robert
Lansing in Mr.. Wilson's Cabinet.
He is not the representative of
the Republican Party, since the
President alone carries the res
possibility for his appointment
and can dismiss him at any mo-
ment. But he does represent
large body of Republican senti-
ment.
The same is true of Frank
Knox, who takes over the vacant
post of Secretary of the Navy. Nc
one questions Mr.. Knox's Repub-
licanism. The Republican Natio-
nal Convention of 1886 nominated
him for Vice-President. From the
first moment when the need Of
Strengthening our national defen-
ses became clearly apparent tc
Congress and to the people, the
President has been trying to gel
Mr.. Knox to come into his Cabi-
net. Mr.. Knox refused the offer
at first. What induced him tt
change his mind is a secret which
only he and the President share.
Washington political observer;
have an explanation. At about the
same time that Mr.. Roosevelt in
vited Mr.. Knox to come in hi
sent for Mr.. Langdon. There i
ground for belief that he Offered
a Cabinet post to Mr.. Langdon
and that Mr.. Langdon intimatet
that he might be interested if tn,
President would pledge that h
would not be a candidate for re
election this Fall. This, the COS
sips have it, the President re
fused to do, so Mr.. Landon wen
back to Kansas.
The same gossips have it thu
Mr.. Knox's first refusal to serv
was for the same reasons. There
fore, his change of heart mu:
be, these wise-acres insist, bt
cause Mr.. Knox has received Il