The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-07-12

SITUATION.
country and his party had united
behind him in unprecedented fash
ion for the historic first one-hun-
dred days Of his first term and
most of his first administration.
Rift Developed in 1888
But the party struggle over
supreme court reorganization in
1897; his attempts to purge"
conservative Democratic senators
in 1888; the struggle over govern
ment reorganization and the in
creasingly well-defined line of
demarcation between old line
Democrats and liberals of the New
Deal, had by 1910 driven a SEEM
ingly deep rift in solidarity Of the
party.
Whatever place Mr.. Roosevelt
ultimately assumes in history, his
administrations undoubtedly will
be highlighted by his battle for
his type of liberalism, by his strug-
gle for what he termed "the more
abundant life and a new deal for
the little man." That program
led him into a battle with more
conservative elements Of his party,
who felt that his reforms violated
certain property and personal
rights, and led to the party rift.
His friends argued that by re-
naming silent on the possibility
that he might seek a third term,
he could so completely dominate
the party that he might be able
to dictate selection Of a Demo-
crat nominee who held the same
enets as he.- Or, failing that, as
a last resort, he could announce
his availability as candidate or
bow to q draft Roosevelt" move
men and run for reelection, they
commended.
One Dominant Figure
AS primary elections early in
1910 slowly placed convention
votes in his column without any
indication from Mr.. Roosevelt that
he would accept the nomination If
rendered, the political scene be-
came increasingly apparent. But
acquisition Of convention votes,
many political analysts said, pro-
vided no assurance that he would
be able to transfer that power to
a candidate Of his choice. They
agreed that his strategy had held
him firmly in the saddle as I'M
challenged leader of his party.
BY mid-April, with the war in
Europe becoming more devastat-
ing 1t appeared unquestionable that
Mr.. Roosevelt could be a candidate
for third term should he choose
to be drafted"
Then greater intensification Of
the war starting with the invasion
Of Denmark and Norway by Ger
many and the retreat of the Allies
in Scandinavia, followed by the
Nazi sweep through the Low
Countries and the defeat Of France,
made American foreign policy and
defense transcendent issues.
On April Is, Mr.. Roosevelt,
speaking before the Pan American
Union, declared that the 81 Ameri-
can republics must be prepared
"to meet force with force" if their
system of peaceful relations is un-
challenged.
Defense Message On May 16
A month later, on May 16, he
sent a special defense message to
Congress, declaring:
'These are ominous days-days
whose swift and Smoking develop
ments force every neutral nation
to look to its defenses in the light
of new factors. The brutal force
of modern offensive war has been
loosed in all its terror"
At that time he proposed four
point defense program, as follows:
TO procure the essential equip
ment of all kinds for a larger and
thoroughly rounded-out-army.
2-To replace or modernize all
old army and navy equipment with
the latest types.
$40 increase production facili-
ties for everything needed for the
army and navy for national de-
lenses.
Am immediate appropriation
for $500, 000, 900 for defenses.
Original Program Enlarged
On May 81 he followed this with
another message calling for the
speedy enlargement Of the program.
At this time he asked that Con-
gress grant the Chief Executive
the right to call into active service
such portion OF the National Guard
"as may be deemed necessary 10
maintain our position OF neutrality
and to safeguard the national de-
fense."
Appropriation sought for the
national defense In this message
involved more than $1,000. 900 900.
Mr.. Roosevelt made q report on
the defense program to the nation
In O "iireslde chat" on May 20. In
this address he reviewed what his
administration had accomplished
IN STRENGTHENING the armed forces
during the nAat A wnara Al "a