Evening star., 1940-01-04

FOLLOWING Is editorial comment
of the Nations newspapers on
President RooseUelts message to
Congress yesterday:
New York Times independent
Democratic)-"' Mr.. Roosevelt's s
counsel to the American people in
such a time as this is sound counsel.
1t can be said, with justice, that
he himself has not always followed
the advice he gives: That he avoid
factionalism and overstatement in
our discussion Of public questions.
But he has chosen particularly op-
perfume time to urge us to cherish
that national unity which is our
richest heritage, and to guard
against permitting it to become
merely pious hope or a high
sounding phrase. ."
New York Herald Tribune Unde-
pendent RepublicanD-"' Rarely
have the emotions and excitements
of war been more expertly used in
an effort to hide failures in domestic
affairs than in yesterdays message
It was beautiful smoke screen that
the commander in chief of the Navy
threw about his battered political
policies in the home line of battle
Thank goodness that the first strong
breeze of common sense will drive
it out of sight and mind. With much
that Mr.. Roosevelt said Of the for
eign problems confronting America,
we heartily agree. ="
Baltimore Sun independent
Democratic)-"Mr. Roosevelt's ad-
dress - was chiefly remarkable in
that it emphasized and argued for
- = the one achievement of his ad-
ministration which is based on the
accepted principles of free econ
omy. The powers under which the
existing reciprocal trade agreements
have been negotiated are about to
expire To persuade Congress to re-
new those powers the President
made an impassioned defense Of
them. - 1t may be that he now
sees that the work done by Mr.. Hull
is the truly enduring contribution
of his administration to the welfare
of the country"
St. Louis Globe Democrat 1nde-
pendent) )-"Congress on its opening
day heard a forceful, well-argued
appeal for national unity. Except
for the item of trade agreements
there is remarkable unanimity in
Congress on the Government for
eign policy. But whatever may be
the degree of agreement on foreign
affairs, there is no similar meeting
of minds on domestic matters
Spending lending, for instance
Economy cuts. The Wagner Act
All the elements of lively battle are
present in Congress"
Cleveland Plain Dealer Inde-
pendent Democr the
whole. powerful preachment fol
peace is this presidential message
Peace is worth defending, democ-
racy worth fighting for, the ideals OF
the Republic too precious to fritter
away.
Americans will thank their Pres
ident for the assurance that there is
at present no prospect OF their coun-
try becoming involved in a military
way in Europe's war"
Philadelphia Inquirer Qndepend-
ent-"" - His message ''' for q
Nation united for peace, for self
defense and for economic stability
constitutes a clear call to all Amer
ican citizens to cooperate for the
attainment of this imperatively nee
essary objective"
Philadelphia Record 0ndepend-
enD-"The President looked in two
directions: To the nations abroad
engaged in war and to our people
who are maintaining peace We art
glad he didn't blink at the unpleas.
ant phases of the American scene
He recognized that after seven year.
of effort our gravest problem-un'
employment-has not been solved
Detroit Free Press Independen
Republican, .-"* - The decision O.
the American people is for complet,
abstinence from war;. And Wher
Mr.. Roosevelt spoke, half patroniz
ingly and half sneeringly. of thos,
who think We can 60 our way ant
mind our own business, he was b,
implication saying that the admin
istration either is not equal to per
formance Of the full will of the Ma
ton or doesn't want to obey tn,
Nation"
Boston Herald (Republcan -
"T'he eighth (and probably the last
of President Roosevelt's annua
messages to Congress on the Stat
of the Nation is conciliatory, salts
flying and about as bipartisan a
such a document can be. Hi
conception of common sense pro