Evening star., 1940-10-05

dictators wanted
20 see him de- David Lawrence.
feated. This same argument has
been employed now by vice presl-
dental nominee, Henry Wallace,
and by Gov. Lehman of New York.
Just why Mr.. Roosevelt has to
90 5000 miles or more to Europe
to find a campaign argument to
support his third-term candidacy
Is beginning to be bit puzzllng,
for, if the Democrats are so conf
dent of victory and so happy about
the Roosevelt record of the last
seven years, it would seem super
fluous to drag in the psychological
ups and downs of the European die
tators as the main reason for voting
to break the thirdterm tradition.
The truth is, Mr.. Roosevelt has
probably never felt secure in mind
about the fact that he is endeavor-
Ing to do what no other President
ever ventured to do and he is,
therefore, anxious to find some
thing in the foreign situation which
will permit historians of the future
10 justify his action in permitting
a third-term candidacy.
Nav Be For Him.
Hitler and MuSSolini probably will
rejoice if Mr.. Roosevelt is reelected
because they can then be sure Amer
lea will embark on a period of
disunity and friction such as it has
never experienced before. Millions
of Americans who have seen
Federal administration use its funds
and its influence to perpetuate it.
self will lose faith in the theory
of democracy. Glass warfare, which
already has retarded the defense
program, will be intensified and
America will find itself far from
the united Nation it would be if
1t had at its helm really able in
dustrial leader such as the Re
publicans nominated.
Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini
canot be expected to issue campaign
statements for President Roosevelt,
but it would not be at all surprising
If Mr.. Roosevelt's mention Of the
newspaper clipping about the axis
powers really resulted in a frank
endorsement of his candidacy by
Berlin and Rome. Distinterested
observers would not be fooled by this
any more than they are by the
anonymous press dispatches which
the President seizeS upon and en-
phasiZes to an assembled press con-
ference.
Nothing in any speech or utter
ance OF Mr.. Willkie gives the
slightest foundation for the SUPPOSE
ton that the Republican nominee,
II elected, would be any less SYM
pathetic to Britain than is Mr..
Roosevelt. On the contrary, Mr..
Willkie favored the trading of des-
troyers for bases and, long before he
was nominated, urged all aid to the
Allies Notwithstanding the fact that
many Republicans in Congress dis
agreed with him.
Instead of commencing such
leadership, Gov. Lehman and others
in the New Deal camp point to it as
a lack of control of the Repub-
lican Party. AS a matter Of fact,
Mr.. Roosevelt does not worry about
the opposition of those in his own
party when it comes to a vital
question. He simply decides the
issue himself and dispenses with
both parties in Congress by re-
fuSing to consult either House of
Congress. He took this action on
the destroyer deal in the face of
the fact that the statutes of the
Nation explicitly forbade him to do
what he did.
Public Opinion Rules.
Doubtless Mr.. Willkie will put is
sues before Congress for settlement
and doubtless, too, he will acquire a
position of leadership once the Ma
power. For it is an unwritten rule
that the power of public opinion is
the only legitimate influence which
q majority in Congress really re-
spectS, though at times it appears
to yield to the illegitimate pressure
exercised by a Chief Executive who
uses patronage, public funds anc
threats of a purge" at the party
primaries to bludgeon members tC
concur with his views on legislation
Mr.. RooSevelt'S leadership on the
destroyer issue was upheld by the
people of the country and that is
why members of Congress have not
concentrated their attacks on him
for his violation of the law. But
to say that Mr.. Roosevelt is the
only man who can mobilize public
opinion in America and thus per-
suade members of Congress to sup
port his proposals is to assume that
nobody else will ever be listened tc
by public opinion in the future-ar
argument not merely for a thirc
term but for a fourth term as well
Herr Hitler probably will agree with
Mr.. Roosevelt that America witt
130,000,000 people cannot produce
more than one leader-he has su.
preme contempt for democracy, any
way.
Reproduction Rights Reserved)