The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1940-10-11
Warrington Digest
President i'm Power Holds Many
Advantages Over His Opponents
Political Party Office Receives the Most Publicity Because
1t Makes the News; Opponents Are
Merely Talking Politics.

doughboyS must enlist under regu-
lar army regulations-that is, for a
three-year period. After that date,
under terms of the Burke-Wads-
worth CONSUMPTION act, the army
will accept volunteers for the one
year enlistment period. Many ap-
plications for one-year enlistment
have already been received and
have been deferred until after regis
tration day" Scattered figures give
rise to the opinion that the enlist
ments after October 10 will show a
rate Of 81 men to each conscrip-
ton district. which would fill the
required quota.
Official sources have not COM
mented on the reasons for this trend
but il appears to be healthy stu
alton. Men who join the army OF
their own free will should make
better soldiers. While it Is argued by
some commentators that many of
the young men planning to enlist
are doing so merely to avoid wait
ing two or three years before their
number turns up in the draft, never
theless their attitude will be better
for they have joined the ranks on
decision made by themselves, and
have not been actually forced" or
drafted.
Will over-confdence defeat the
| Democratic ticket in November?
That is question being rather free
ly tossed around the nations capital
city by political observers these
days. Administration leaders here
seem to be very confident that the
race is as good as over; that their
man Is "in."
But many experienced observers,
while admitting that the President
has shown real strength In the vari-
Gus polls, are inclined 70 point out
that election day Is still some time
away.
Major factors that might give the
Democrats real jolt, say these OBJ
servers, are Q) the third term issue
and (2) the huge Independent
vote" They point out that the first
factor-the third term issue-hasn't
been given a real airing by the Re
| publicans. While the President
has been the object of numerous pot
shots for his precedent-making de-
cision, it han't been the shining light
| In the Willkie Crusade" that many
| people were sure II would be. II
may be that Republicans are saw
ing this vital and highly infam-
mable issue for their final drive
down the stretch.
The second factor-the independ-
ent vote-is equally important in
| forecasting the results of the cleo
ton. Neither the Republicans nor
the Democrats can claim" it until
the ballots are counted. Roosevelt
hackers know II was this vote which
elected the President in 1885 and
feel sure he will hold 1t again in
J November. Republicans, of course,
feel that Wendell Willkie has cap
tured the imaginations of this great
bloc of independents and when the
imagination is captured, they argue,
the ballot is so marked.
Small towns throughout the nation
have an important stake in current
defense plans, judging from the in
formation issuing from the offices Of
the Civil Aeronautics authority here
in Washington.
This is the story:
1t is quite generally conceded that
one OF the major weaknesses in the
nations defense system is the lack
ing OF airports equipped to handle
large bombers. And in any plan TO
strengthen this nations defense
these airports must in some way be
| provided.
The CAA is attempting to work
out program whereby this can be
brought about and at the same
time commercial aviation can be
given a real boost.
This would mean q network of
airports reaching to every section
OF the nation, all able to handle the
largest OF U S. army bombers.
Thus these same airports could also
accommodate the large commercial
airliners. Commercial aviation
would be given it's needed impetus
in many now remote" sections, and
the defense Of the nation would be
strengthened.
Selective service officials in Wash
ington have announced that plans
call for the employment of about a
million persons to serve without paw
in carrying out provisions of the con-
scription act. These unpaid work
ers will consist Of various local draft
boards, their medical, legal and
business advisers and other admin
istrative aids.