Evening star., 1940-05-17

came frequent
Charles G. Ross. bursts of ap-
plause. On the left the address was
received for the most part in silence.
But even without this difference.
even when the whole audience heard
In tense silence the measured call Of
the President for huge new defense
appropriation, the visitor could have
sensed the sharp contrast between
the emotions on the two sides OF the
line. There was no lack of serious
ness anywhere, but the faces of the
Republicans, unlike those Of the
Democrats, were set in lines Of un-
mitigated gloom.
1t was not opposition to the Presi-
dents recommendations that caused
the guinness on the Republican side.
The funds requested by the Presi-
dent for the Army, the Navy and
the Marine Corps will be voted.
House Minority Leader Martin made
this plain when he said I'VE are all"
for the program and asked that II
be put through promptly and got
out OF the way.
Agree With President.
Under the potential threat to this
Nation and its way of life from the
calamitous events abroad. the Presi-
dents political enemies. no less than
his supporters, agree fully with him
that "our task is plain. The road
We must take is clearly indicated.
Our defenses must be invulnerable,
our security absolute" On that point
there is no division between the
parties; in common sense and In
patriotism there can be none. Thus
to an extent politics is adjourned.
Doubtless there will be nareup-
not wholly partisan-over the spe.
cial sums requested by Mr.. Roose.
welt for use in his discretion, but,
whatever the outcome in this par.
ticular, the program in its main out
lines will 60 through. Not only the
manifest national need but the
eagerness Of Congress to get through
its work and 90 home will contribute
to the speed" for which the Presi-
dent called.
So it was not the content Of the
Presidents message that gave the
Republican part of the chamber a
funeral aspect unmatched by the
Democrats. 1t was the thought of
the political reaction to the speech
the brooding fear that out OF the
war In Europe. situation is de-
veloping that will upset all the
buoyant Republican hopes Of q few
months ago.
Doesn't Look Like . March.
BY good fortune or Ill, II fell to
the lot Of Senator Vandenberg to
60 on the air at Grand Rapids i'm
mediately after the President had
finished speaking. The Republican
party" he began, "is on the march,"
1t didn't look that way from the
gallery Of the House as the Pres.-
dent spoke.
The truth is that the Republicans
are desperately confused. It is only
known that the war, somehow. will
affect the election; Just how, no one
can tell. The party, moreover, has
no clear line Of policy toward the
war. 1t is united only on the broad
plank OF non-involvement and of
keep-America-safe. So are nearly
all Of us. But what do we mean
when we say that We must keep
out? Do We mean non-involye-
ment of the sort preached BY the
"isolationists," or the sort favored
by the President-no sending of
troops abroad, but aid to the allies
by measures short Of WARP" There
are influential Republicans who,
while disagreeing drastically with
the President on domestic issues, be-
Heve In his foreign policy. Wendell
Willkie Is one Of them. What is
to be the stand Of the Republicans?
VIII the party plump for the school
OF thought represented by Mr.. WILL
kie or will it follow the isolationist
line which Mr.. Dewey, after favorine
the Presidents foreign policy in the
East. laid down for himself In the
West?
President Seizes Issue.
Now on top of this uncertainty
over foreign policy is the added
popularity which the President-or
50 1t Is feared-will gain from his
prompt espousal of the prepared
ness issue. All that the opposition
party can do here Is to 60 along
with him. Failure Of the President
to seize the issue would have made
1t possible for the Republicans to
60 to the country with a make
America strong" slogan. But he
has not so failed. He has shown
himself fully alive to the necessi-
ties OF the case. Preparedness rs
an issue is Cancelled out.
Events may take new turn. No
one can tell for certain how public
opinion will jump-whether in IA
vor Of increasing our aid to the
allies or against increasing It. No
one can tell who will be the candi-
date OF either party. There Is one
dead certainty, and only one,
namely, that Mr.. Roosevelt has the
Democratic nomination II he wants
1t. No one can tell what is going
TO happen In Europe In the next
80 days. or the next a. hours. Po-
lucal strategy, for all these reasons.
u on Q day-to-day basis. Some
thing may occur to warrant q new
burst Of G. o. P. optimism. For the
moment, the Nazi drive through the
Low Countries Is doing the party .
cr1lel turn