Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-10-13

0NE Of the arguments advanced
" against third term for Roosevelt,
or for any President, is that q man can
so intrench himself in power in eight
years, through the "subsidizing' Of
free election system which forms the
backbone of our representative govern
ment. The short and simple way OF
putting 1t is that you can't beat Santa
Claus"
The President himself has said that
instruments of power have been built
up at Washington which might be used.
in other hands, to provide shackles
for the liberties of the people"
Now it is undoubtedly true that Presi-
dent Roosevelt enters the election with
heavy advantage, due to the great
sums of money which have gone to the
recipients of various forms of Federal
aid. But whether or not this fact, in
the event of his reelection, will mean
that the processes of free democratic
government have been interfered with,
is a matter of opinion. The answer de-
ponds wholly on the point Of view.
If Roosevelt wins, and particularly If
he wins by an overwhelming majority,
the question will remain open. His OPP
ponents will charge that his election
was the direct result of the application
of what Wendell L. Willkie has called
the "candy-stick theory" of govern
ment; that his election, therefore.
marked another step toward Dictator
ship.
COP. Also Makes Promises.
The reply will be, reasonably enough,
that to speak Of "subsidizing" voters
through farm aid, the w. P. A.. direct
relief to the unemployed and other
methods made necessary by the plight
in which the country found itself in
l933-that to damn these forms Of aid
as subsidies is to avoid the issue by
the use OF a smearing word.
The reply am summing up the
Democratic line of argument-will be to
ask: How about the tariff subsidies of
Republican administrations to other
groups of voters? The reply will be that
Roosevelt has simply sought to redress
inequalities; that of course the voters
have turned again to the man who has
shown himself devoted to the greatest
good of the greatest number: that in
any case the emergency in our foreign
relations demanded his election; that so
long as We have the right to vote our
elected officers out there can be no die
tatorship in America.
10 cub ho DoroacrotS
point out that the Republican candi-
date of 1896, Mr.. Landon, proved him.
self top-f1ight promiser-he even made
some sort of new record in pledging aid
to the farmers-and that the present
candidate. Mr.. Willkie, is not proposing
the withdrawal of single form of re-
lief now in effect 1t is the procedure
of the New Deal with which Mr.. Willkie
quarrels, not the subsidies" themselves.
This is not an argument either for or
against the third term, but an effort
merely to set out the political realities.
Gifts Not Wholly an Asset.
Entirely apart from the emergency
which the President has given as his
reason for running again. he enjoys
the immense advantage which flows nat
urally from the benefactions of the Fed
eral Government under his administra-
ton. It does not, however, follow that
he will on that account be reelected.
For the gifts that government confers
can never be reckoned wholly as an as
set While they win voters on the one
hand for it is the pocketbook nerve
which is the most sensitive in any cleo
ton, whether among the leaders of
business or the diggers of ditcheS, on
groups which feel themselves discrim-
mated against.
And even in the benefited groups there
is bound to be disaffection-a feeling on
the part of some, no doubt, that prin-
ciple of government has been violated,
to the ultimate hurt Of the beneficiaries,
and on the part Of others, that the gifts
should have been greater.
The average Republican member Of
Congress, however ardently he may
preach economy, is out to get what he
can for his district, and is quick to cap
italize any resentment his voters may
feel. for example, against a cut in the
w. P. A. rolls. The same would be true
the other way around If the Republic
ans were in power and the Democrats
trying to get in. Politics is politics, the
same the world over, yesterday, today
and tomorrow.
Thus it may fairly be argued that the
practical genius of our institutions re-
mains a safeguard against the estab-
lishment of dictatorship and the wip-
ing out of free elections"
What are the various elements Of the
vote which it is assumed will 60 to the
President In preponderant measure?
Exclusive Of the Army, the Navy and