Evening star., 1940-11-09
Surrender
Is Urged on
Doubters
Vote Mandate
Remains Clear
Says Observer
BY JAY FRANKLIN.

President Rooseyelt's reelection
constitutes a clear and overwhelm-
ing mandate to defend democracy at
home and abroad, free Of the hin
drances and carping criticism which
made a mockery of his great victory
in 1896.
Already the voices of conservative
spokesmen are raised in a shout that
Mr.. Roosevelt was not drafted" and
holds no mandate.
The question of the draft" has
already been settled by a majority
of the voters in the American de-
mocr7cy, and is now a matter Of
popular sovereignty rather than leg
alistic definitions. To doubt the
validity of this mandate-on the
grounds that the President got only
55 per cent Of the popular vote
corles with poor grace from the
spokesman for corporate business.
You can control any of Mr.. WILL
kie's. corporations with 81 per cent
Of the stock, and as matter of fact
the chief charge against certain
forms of big business and especially
the holding company racket is that
small minority of the stock con-
trolls the wealth Of thousands Of
investors who have no effective voice
in the conduct of the enterprise
which represents their wealth.
Signal for Silence.
1t seems to me that on November
5, the American people gave the
signal to the Roosevelt writer's
to pipe down. Their cooperation
will be appreciated but their ad-
vice is not desired nor does it seem
to have been relia aJle.
For that reason, I desire to re-
tract my suggestion that Mr.. Roose-
welt should promptly appoint Mr..
Wlllkle to an important position in
his administration. Mr.. WILKES
election-night statement reflected a
mood and a point Of view which
dlsillusloned many Of his admirers
and alarmed some Of those who had
previously felt, like me. that his
abilities might be enlisted IN the
public service. Quite frankly, Mr..
Willkie seemed to be as irrelevantly
egOtistical as John L. Lewis HIM
self, and, making all allowances for
the strain Of campaigning. raised a
question as 10 his emotional ability
to face the problems Of political ad-
ministration. In any case, the de-
clsion lies entirely with President
Roosevelt and I would not wish 20
embarrass him by urging a course
Of action which might be unwise or
perilous TO national unity.
Time for Unity.
% The time has come for reconcil-
iation, cooperation and unity. The
time has also come for consolidation
Of the forces which drafted Mr..
Roosevelt for a third term and gave
him a complete and satisfactory
mandate from the people, reflected
not only in popular electoral votes
but also in increased strength in the
House of Representative and con-
tinued control of the Senate.
For the moment, therefore, it be-
comes those whose advice was re-
JNALCO w tA4C FOgClC IlOb " DG LOO
sure that they are in any position
to interpret the results or to explain
them away as being fundamentally
meaningless in terms of domestic
reform.
Towards the millions of decent
citizens who voted for Mr.. Willkie
there is no New Deal resentment and
naturally there will be no reprisals,
but those who headed the effort to
supplant the peoples Government
with an untried man running on a
double-talk platform and the fear
Of war, need not be surprised If their
words do not inspire confidence or
respect at Washington in the mo-
ment of Mr.. Roosevelt's greatest
victory for the forces of democracy.
released by
Consolidated News Service. Iuc)