The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-02-24
INTERNATIONAL POKER

TERNATlONAL POKER
Opponents OF the Lend-Lease bill
will find encouragement in the opin'
ion OF such Democratic leaders as
Senator Guy NJ. Gillette, white
haired lowau, who declares the
Lend.Lesse bill permits President
Roosevelt TO sit in the information
al poker game OF power politics
and stake the liberty OF America
on his judgment
If Britain is fighting Americas
battle, says Gillette, Congress
should Immediately declare war.
"If It is not Americas battle, the
nation should shun involvement
Il cannot vote" Gillette says,
ito pass any measure which will
permit the President, or any man
under Gods almighty heavens to
sit in the international poker game
Of power politics and stake in his
discretion. by his judgment OF the
value OF each play. all the resources
Of the United States, the life, the
liberty, the happiness, the security,
and perhaps the blood OF her citi'
zens."
Conceding that foes Of the bill
are outnumbered three 10 one, Gil
lette broke with the leaders Of his
party with great reluctance.
II Britain is fighting "our war.
he says, the nation should be will
ing Immediately TO conscript every
factory, industrial plant, transporta-
tion facility and every man, hour
of labor, machinery aud executive
ability on a 24-hour basis for the
production OF war machinery and
10 make every sacrifice without
thin dime OF profit to any man..
81 will work, vote and speak for
every effort and proposal to pre-
pare ourselves as fully as can be
done to meet any possible threat or
contingency, to the full limit OF our
needs and resources. but ! will not
support any proposal 10 dissipate
these defense needs and resources
now and leave America defenseless
or greatly weakened by the partici-
patton in a foreign conflict which
means war involvement now and is
war now, regardless of our attempts
10 disguise the facts by selfdecep-
ton"
The senator challenges advocates
OF the bill TO accept an amendment
which would specifically prohibit
American merchant ships from en-
tering war zones. II they enter and
are sunk, it inevitably means that
American naval vessels will be or.
dered into action.
Advocates OF the Leass.Lend
measure maintain that the Presi-
dent can order conveys despite a
provision saying that the measure
does not authorize conveys.
This bill clothes the Chief Execu-
tive With full power to exercise
such authority as has never been
delegated TO any chief executive
voluntarily by any free people 10
time OF peace, or even In times de-
fined by the President as limited
emergencies, the senator declares.
Neither President Roosevelt nor
Wendell Willkie, he says, dared
10 submit the issue OF about aid to
Britain, or aid regardless OF law. or
repeal or change OF existing law
10 permit about assistance, to the
voters OF America. | urge an end
10 all discussions OF measures short
OF war, or assertions that the Presi-
dent could not or would not take
wsrlike action under the authority
OF the bill"
According TO numerous reports,
Senator Gillette and others who
share his viewpoint are expressing
the feelings Of the majority OF Amer.
lean people. Majority against the
measure has been placed as high
a. eight 10 one. Thousands OF pro-
testing kilograms are pouring into
Washington offices OF our senators
and Representatives. Yet the pollti.
cal leaders who are supporting the
President declare the measure will
be passed They contend that
sent ment is just as strong in favor
OF the bill as the opponents say It
is against the bill Only popular
vote could give the facts.
Presiden; Roosevelt may be the
indispensable man, he may be the
greatest military strategist Of hts
time and the most able director OF
national destinles, but 10 give him,
or any other one man, dictatorial
power. even under these conditions.
would be undsmocratlc. Democracy
is the chief issue. Shall II stand or
fall?
We IRE pretty thoroughly agreed
IN this country that we should aid
Great Britain with credit for ships.
planes and munitions. but we are
not agreed on any proposal that
would call Tor active service on the
part o. our army, except for defense.
And think what a fix We would be
in Il anything should happen to
President Roosevelt and a less
competent leader should step into
his office with all the power that
the Lend'Lease bill provides!
-O------
The banana breathes like a hu.
man being. n inhalss oxvRen az