The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1940-10-11
The Choice of a Candidate
Editorial from New York Times)

THE NEW YORK TINES supported
Franklin D. Roosevelt for the Presidency
in 1882 and again in 1886 In 1910 it will
support Wendell Willkie.
It has made its choice as all Americans
must make their choice in one Of the
great crises Of this nations history The
liberties Of the American people are in
danger A hostile Power, openly pro-
claiming its hatred Of the democratic way
Of life, has swept across Europe and is
now battering at the gates of England,
seeking to grasp the eastern approaches
to that Atlantic world in which our own
democracy has lived and prospered.
Both Mr.. Roosevelt and Mr.. Willkie
understand the critical nature Of this
threat to the United States Both are citi-
zens Of the world. Both know that it is
impossible to isolate ourselves from the
consequences of world revolution Both
know that we must take sides morally or
count fer nothing. Both are opposed to
actual Intervention IN The war, but short
of war both favor every possible aid that
can be given to the one democracy in
Europe that still stands in Hitlers path.
The agreement between the two Presi-
Dental candidates on the fundamentals of
a foreign policy is deeply fortunate fact
for the American people. Without it we
might now be involved in bitter contro-
yersy which would wreck our unity. As
matters stand, the choice before us has
been narrowed to this question: In whose
hands, MI Roosevet's OF Mr.. Wilkes,
is the safety of the American people. likely
to be more secure during the critical test
that lies ahead
We give our own support to Mr. Will
kie primarily for these reasons: Because
we believe that he is better equipped than
Mr.. Roosevelt to provide this country with
an adequate national defense; because we
believe he is a practical liberal who under
stands the need Of increased production;
because we believe that the fiscal policies
Of Mr.. Roosevelt have failed disastrousy'
because we believe that at time when
the traditional safeguards OF democracy
are falling everywhere it IS particularly
important to honor and preserve the
American tradition against vesting the
enormous powers Of the Presidency in the
hands Of any man for three consecutive
terms OF office.
Our readers are entitled to a statement
Of the reasons which, upon mature con
sderaEion have led Us to these opinions,
|. Defense of the United States
III the field Of national defense we rec
ognze that Mr. Roosevelt has taken
number Of necessary steps, all Of which
have had our whole hearted endorsement,
both before he was ready to take them
and later, when he had acted. He has re-
created the Defense Advisory Commission
and called some able men To Washington.
He has recommended that Congress ap-
propriate large funds for defense equip
meDt He has succeeded in negotiating
leases for new naval and air bases which
are Of great potential importance to the
defense Of the whole North American
continent He strongly urged Congress to
adopt system of compulsory selectiva
military service
But there are number of other equal
ly important steps which Mr. Roosevelt
has not taken. He has withheld power
from the Advisory Commission and made
it mere consultative agency, unable on
its own authority to cut the endless red
ta9e ia Washington. He has kept power
for s.inself tried to be his own defense