Imperial Valley press., 1940-09-24
THE BATTLE
OF AMERICA
(ChriStian Science Monitor)

Millions of Americans believe that
their surest defense is to strengthen de-
mocracy at home; yet they have been
giving eyes and ears to the war in Eu-
rope with only an occasional glance over
their shoulders at one of the most i'm
portant national elections they have ever
held. They are doing little to decide the
Battle of Britain, but are being pulled
away from essential democratic discus
sion of national issues. We yield to no
one in our appreciation of the struggle
over Britain but we do feel that in the
next six weeks Americans can do more
to help themselves and for democracy
by giving first attention to domestic prob
lems We welcome, therefore, Wendell
Wilkes effort in his speech at Coffey
vile to bring citizens back to the Battle
of America.
Mr.. Willkie believes that American de-
mocracy is .'in danger from without be-
cause it is in danger from within" His
conviction rang in his voice at Coffey
vile, and it should cause Americans who
scott at dangers within to pause and
examine the condition of their country
and those moral and spiritual values in
democracy which Mr.. Willkie so rightly
emphasized.
We do not believe that dictatorship is
around the corner in the United States.
But we do believe that precious values of
a free society are being eaten away when
millions cannot find work because gov
arumpOtal nOliciaS are 6iScoura pu free
enterprise, when the people are taught to
look to Washington for support, when the
Legislative branch of government loses
It's grip on the power of the purse and
the Executive takes it over, when bureau
cracy grows like mushroom and gov
ernment of law tends to become gov
ernment of men exercising tremendous
arbitrary power when class hatreds are
encouraged and politicians seek votes by
appeals to the selfish interests of blocs
instead of asking all to sacrifice for the
welfare of all, when billions are added
to the public debt but few are willing
even to think of paying them off, when
defeatism and cynicism and materialsm
are rampant in Washington and the cor
rupt machines of the big cities seek to
TammanyiZe the Federal Government,
when local government decays and power
is centralized in one place and one man.
We believe Mr.. Willkie is performing
public service in asking Americans to
turn to fundamentals of democracy. We
believe he is right in urging that the
President should have faith in the Peo-
pie. We believe real damage has been
done to American democracy by floun-
dering administration even of useful re-
forms achieved by the Roosevelt regime
Americans have a right to inquire
whether it is insincerity or contempt
which asks them to believe that the Pres
ident had no part in "drafting'' himself
or that he doesn't know political speech
when he makes one In any case here is
an attitude which basically endangers
democracy.
We hope the Republican candidate will
not attempt to press the charge that
President Roosevelt has weakened democ-
racy abroad. But emphatically it is right
that the whole question should be dis
cussed, and the charge that democracy
has been weakened at home is so mani
festly true that those who seek a third
term for Mr.. Roosevelt bear the burden
of proof. They should tell how they
mean to win the Battle of America.