Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-11-04
A Great Decision

Ull6 polls IOI1lOITOW W IeCOI u d VI uly
great political decision-one which
is certain to have a profound influ-
ence on our national destiny.
For three months the choice be-
tween two particular candidates has
been in the making. Various factors
have played a part in shaping it..
Some have been wholly irrelevant,
deliberately introduced to confuse
the picture. But they have failed
of accomplishing that purpose. The
main issues, the basic considerations
which should determine the choice
of the next President, have been
clearly defined.
AS is entirely natural, the two can
didates and their associates have
sought to stress factors which are
most favorable to their respective
chances of election. For the Demo-
Gratis, this has meant major effort
to dramatic the dangers from
abroad: for the Republicans con-
centration of fire on what they con-
slider to be the domestic failures of
the New Deal and the third term
question.
For strategic reasons, the President
waited until the very end of his cam
paign to attempt to justify his quest
for third term in violation of ira
dition as old as the Republic. And,
quite naturally, he elected to rest his
case on the external dangers which
threaten America. Obviously, he
could not have sought reelection
on his domestic record To ask the
people to break the tradition against
third term by re-electing Mr.. Roose-
welt required a showing that there was
some imperative reason for continu-
ing him in Office, and to have rested
this appeal on the New Deals domes-
tic record necessarily would have i'm
piled certain failure of accomplish
ment in the past eight years. To
have conceded that, even by inplica-
ton, would have been politically fatal.
Hence, a new danger, the menace
from abroad, was selected as the
vehicle to carry the third term effort.
When Mr.. Roosevelt accepted the
third term nomination he said that
he would not be an aggressive can
didate, that he would submit to a
draft" by the people but that he
would not seek election. In the early
stages of the campaign he adhered
to that policy. Later, however, as
the Republican nominees campaign
began to gather momentum, Mr..
Roosevelt abandoned the strategy of
waiting for draft. During the past
few weeks he has waged vigorous,
fighting campaign which was cul-
minated Saturday night with his
defense of the third term effort, his
statement that the international
situation is "the true reason that I
would like to stick by these people
of ours until we reach the clear, sure
footing ahead"
Here Is an about face on the Presi-
dents part which is significant
chiefly to the extent that it bears on
Republican claims that the foreign
situation has been seized upon as a
handy instrument for creating de-
mand for retention Of Mr.. Roosevelt
when, in fact, no such necessity
exists. Significant, also, was Mr..
Roosevelts assertion that in 1914
there will be another President"
That statement goes to the very
heart of his present plea for re-
election, for, If the storm abroad
really requires his retention in office
today, why should there be another
President four years hence if the
emergency is still present? If Mr..
Roosevelt's experience Is vital now,
might not his greater experience in
1914, If he is elected, be even more
vital at that time?
Mr. Willkie, despite occasional in
consistencies, has sought to convince
the voters that he is fully qualified
to handle our foreign relations, and
to give assurance that in the main
be would follow the policies laid
down by this administration. His
record, on the whole, leads to the
belief that he would do so.
Here, then, is presented one Of the
great issues of 1910: Whether, given
two candidates who are in sub
stantial agreement on foreign policy
there are any other factors which
warrant the breaking of the third
term tradition The effect of this
determination on our future is clear
for if the people decide now that Mr.
Roosevelt, because of his experience
in foreign affairs, should be retained
In office, there will be little, if any
thing, hereafter to impose an arbi-
trary limitation on the length OF
service of any President.
The other great question before
the electorate concerns our domestic
situation. Mr.. Willkie, Throughout
his campaign, has hammered ava!
at the thought that only the produc'
tive can be strong, and only thu