Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-10-31
Unity Is Best Defense
Eliot Urges Quick Healing Of Election
Wounds for Solid Front Against Dictotors

continue at the helm OF the State
Department, the dangers of this
situation would be much amelio-
rated.
Hull Might Serve as President.
Even this might not, however, be
enough. The state of the world is
such that it might conceivably be-
come the duty of Mr.. Roosevelt to
resign, followed by Mr.. Garner, and
to thus allow Mr.. Hull to act as
President ad interim until Mr..
WILKES Inauguration. Or Mr..
Roosevelt might think it a more
suitable course to call Mr.. Willkie
into close and immediate consulta-
ton, and to permit him a share in
the guidance of policy during the
period of waiting The danger is
very real that advantage would be
taken of this period by those whose
acts we might, in ordinary condi-
tons. be expected to oppose.
1t is a military axiom that it is
far easier to deal with any hostile
enterprise in its initial stages than
after it develops momentum and
power. 1t is far easier to prevent
an enemy from occupying a position
dangerous to oneself, by anticipat-
ing him, than it is to expel him
after he has arrived and consol-
dated his holdings. However, in Or
der to anticipate such moves, or in
deed in order to take timely and eff
cient action of any sort, it is neces-
sary for a democratic government to
have that freedom of action which
arises from unity and confidence.
Otherwise, doubt and hesitation
reign. And we have already seen
how well the totalitarian powers can
detect the existence of doubt and
hesitation in the councils of their
opponents, and how efficiently they
can take advantage of these condi-
lions.
However the election turns out
our country will still be here and
it will need the loyal and self-sacri-
ficing services of all us Whoever
is President, there will be the same
dangers from abroad. the same
threats, the same need for firm
policy and stout defense. Whether
Mr.. Roosevelt or Mr.. Willkie re-
ceives the mandate of our cleo
torate, they will have to deal with
the Germany of Hitler, the Italy
of Mussolini, the Russia of Stain,
the Japan of Konoye and Matsuoka.
These gentlemen are not subject to
electorate mandates. They will
be doing business at the old stand
Must Present Solid Front.
A divided America, an uncertain
America, an America torn by inner
reSentments cannot deal with uni
fed, solidified powers such as these.
Not only must we realize this, but
we must make it apparent to the
dictators that we are not divided
amongst ourselves where foreign
danger is concerned. OF that unity
which must be the foundation of
our power, we ought to present i'm
mediate symbols to the world-such
symbols as the continuing in Office
of Mr.. Hull should the Republicans
win, or the appointment of Mr..
WIllkie to responsible Office should
the Democrats win.
This is the American way of do
ing things. This is the Ameri-
can way Of life, whose right to
exist on the face of the earth is
now being so insolently challenged.
While we give our great demon
stration of a free people, in the
midst of war-torn world, proceed
ing by constitutional methods to
choose new leaders for the next term
of Office, we should also not forget
that while we divide into these.
domestic camps for such a purpose,
there must be no hint to any out
siders that we are other than firmly
united to meet any foreign threat.
The time factor is all important in
modern war. So is the economic
factor. Quickness of decision, readi-
ness to act, the linking of resources
with actual fighting potential-all
these are needful. Behind them