Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1940-12-28
By HUGH S. JOHNSON

THE committee to get us into
war seems to be having its
own troubles. In spite of its full
page advertisements at who
knows at-what-cost or where-the
money comes from, its most
honored, respected and trusted
member and chairman. William
Allen White. has announced a
position with which this writer
is in enthusiastic agreement
1.-THE Yanks Aren't Coming"
On the heels of that. however,
and at the birth of the Presi-
dents forthcoming brain-child
on our position in this war, l6O
of the participant patriots and
petitioners are urging him to go
whole hog.
1t is hard TO pretend to say
just what we ought to do about
this. On one point there is no
disagreement w h tever. We
ought to get ready with armored
ships, gunned TO capacity and
with armored divisions gunned
no more lightly.
WE ARE not doing it or. 10
w the extent that we are do
ing il, we are moving at a pace
so slow that it is a disgrace 10
the American reputation for ef-
ficiency. ...
Make no mistake about that.
Our rearmament program SIM
ply isn't moving Every mis-
take and blunder of the World
Wars early staggering steps is
being repeated. with what re-
suit in lost time and squandered
millions we have yet 10 learn.
A congressional committee of
investigation will reveal all these
things and such an investigation
is inevitable That isn't the inn
portant thing just now. The inn
portant thing is 10 get produc-
ton.
While this column isn't in
absolute disagreement that II
should be gotten for Britain
first. ii is in thorough agree
ment that it should be gotten
for our own defense and IT Is
convinced that it isn't happen
ing at proper pace.
THIS. just now, is matter
i of leadership. OF inspired
leadership. While it is quite true
that something more than bally-
hoo is. necessary to get cold,
metallic tonnage off the produc-
tion lines, il is also true that en-
thusiasm. unity and the will-to-
do is as necessary as electric
power-and we simply do not
yet have that in this effort.
Some people say that TO get
1t, we must declare war. That's
what they told France. If war
were declared. that zip would
still be necessary and it de-
ponds on some personality. like
Horatius al the Bridge. like
Andy Jackson at New Orleans.
A declaration of war has moth
ing to do with il. The selection
of man has everything to do
with II.
satg
THAT is up TO the President
and he hasn't done II yet.
What the apparently divided
committee TO get us into war
has to say about this won't help.
As somebody has said. any kind
of a board is long. wooden, mar
row and full of splinters. Com
mittees are also like that
recently inadvertently joined
one, the America First Commit
tee. A leading member. Mr.. Les
sing Rosenwald, has since re-
signed He is probably right.
Committees will never do this
job
A man will do it. and up to
this writing we do not seem TO
have him-not in the advisory
commission for national defense.
not in the great governmental
departments. not elsewhere.
l know that man who could
do it if he is not too tired, be-
wildered. and torn by conflict
ing advice. His name is Frank
lin d. Roosevelt. He hasn't done
it yet.
Distributed. United Feature Syndicate. Inc